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Voter Turnout, Information Acquisition and Education: Evidence from 15 European Countries

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  • Borgonovi Francesca

    (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and The London School of Economics and Political Science)

  • d'Hombres Beatrice

    (CRELL, Unit of Econometrics and Applied Statistics, European Commission, Beatrice.D’)

  • Hoskins Bryony

    (Institute of Education, University of London)

Abstract

This article examines the impact of education on political participation in 15 European countries. We use data from the European Social Survey and find that education is positively associated with voter turnout and information acquisition about politics and currents affairs. However, when we use exogeneous changes in compulsory schooling to instrument education, we observe a statistically significant causal relationship in the case of information acquisition but not voter turnout.

Suggested Citation

  • Borgonovi Francesca & d'Hombres Beatrice & Hoskins Bryony, 2010. "Voter Turnout, Information Acquisition and Education: Evidence from 15 European Countries," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 10(1), pages 1-34, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:10:y:2010:i:1:n:90
    DOI: 10.2202/1935-1682.2463
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    References listed on IDEAS

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