IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/injoed/v110y2024ics0738059324001627.html

The role of education in shaping voting behavior: Insights from the Taiwan 2021 Referendum

Author

Listed:
  • Fu, Yuan Chih

Abstract

Many studies document an association between education and civic engagement, but few establish credible causal links due to limited data. In 2021, Taiwanese voters decided on four public issues via a referendum. Slightly disproportionate results vetoed all issues. The mobilization of the ruling and opposing parties to encourage their supporters to veto or support all issues left an unsettled question: What role does education play in shaping voting behavior? This study examined 7,588 village-level data containing socioeconomic statistics, citizens’ educational levels, and voting behaviors. Using the instrumental variable approach to investigate the causality between citizens’ education levels and voting behaviors, this study finds that villages with higher portions of citizens having a bachelor’s degree or above have higher voting rates. Regardless of the different arguments for and against each of the four referendum proposals, these villages are also more likely to veto all four issues, indicating a complex relationship between education and political decision-making. This study contributes to discussions about the public benefits of education on society and suggests caution in assuming that education alone can counteract the effects of a polarized political climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Fu, Yuan Chih, 2024. "The role of education in shaping voting behavior: Insights from the Taiwan 2021 Referendum," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:110:y:2024:i:c:s0738059324001627
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2024.103136
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738059324001627
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2024.103136?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Filer & Lawrence Kenny, 1980. "Voter turnout and the benefits of voting," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 35(5), pages 575-585, January.
    2. James J. Heckman & John Eric Humphries & Gregory Veramendi, 2018. "The Nonmarket Benefits of Education and Ability," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 12(2), pages 282-304.
    3. Neil M. Davies & Matt Dickson & George Davey Smith & Gerard J. van den Berg & Frank Windmeijer, 2018. "The causal effects of education on health outcomes in the UK Biobank," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 2(2), pages 117-125, February.
    4. Tenn, Steven, 2007. "The Effect of Education on Voter Turnout," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(4), pages 446-464.
    5. Ansolabehere, Stephen & Hersh, Eitan, 2012. "Validation: What Big Data Reveal About Survey Misreporting and the Real Electorate," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(4), pages 437-459.
    6. Milligan, Kevin & Moretti, Enrico & Oreopoulos, Philip, 2004. "Does education improve citizenship? Evidence from the United States and the United Kingdom," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(9-10), pages 1667-1695, August.
    7. Kenkel, Don, 1990. "Consumer Health Information and the Demand for Medical Care," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 72(4), pages 587-595, November.
    8. Theocharis Kromydas, 2017. "Rethinking higher education and its relationship with social inequalities: past knowledge, present state and future potential," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(1), pages 1-12, December.
    9. Gidengil, Elisabeth & Tarkiainen, Lasse & Wass, Hanna & Martikainen, Pekka, 2019. "Turnout and Education: Is Education Proxying for Pre-Adult Experiences Within the Family?," Political Science Research and Methods, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(2), pages 349-365, April.
    10. Hong, Ying-Yi & Apolinario, Gerard Francesco DG. & Chung, Chen-Nien & Lu, Tai-Ken & Chu, Chia-Chi, 2020. "Effect of Taiwan's energy policy on unit commitment in 2025," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    11. Le, Kien & Nguyen, My, 2021. "Education and political engagement," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    12. Matthew E. Kahn, 2002. "Demographic change and the demand for environmental regulation," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(1), pages 45-62.
    13. Panu Pelkonen, 2012. "Length of compulsory education and voter turnout—evidence from a staged reform," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 51-75, January.
    14. Dee, Thomas S., 2004. "Are there civic returns to education?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(9-10), pages 1697-1720, August.
    15. Aziz N. Berdiev & Chun-Ping Chang, 2013. "Explaining Voter Turnout in Taiwan Legislative Elections," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 645-661, December.
    16. Caitlin E. Ahearn & Jennie E. Brand & Xiang Zhou, 2023. "How, and For Whom, Does Higher Education Increase Voting?," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 64(4), pages 574-597, June.
    17. Brad T. Gomez & J. Matthew Wilson, 2006. "Cognitive Heterogeneity and Economic Voting: A Comparative Analysis of Four Democratic Electorates," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 50(1), pages 127-145, January.
    18. Mah, Daphne Ngar-yin & Hills, Peter & Tao, Julia, 2014. "Risk perception, trust and public engagement in nuclear decision-making in Hong Kong," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 368-390.
    19. William R. Doyle & Benjamin T. Skinner, 2017. "Does Postsecondary Education Result in Civic Benefits?," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 88(6), pages 863-893, November.
    20. Kim, Younghwan & Kim, Wonjoon & Kim, Minki, 2014. "An international comparative analysis of public acceptance of nuclear energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 475-483.
    21. Baccini, Leonardo & Leemann, Lucas, 2021. "Do natural disasters help the environment? How voters respond and what that means," Political Science Research and Methods, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(3), pages 468-484, July.
    22. Bornstein, Nicholas & Lanz, Bruno, 2008. "Voting on the environment: Price or ideology? Evidence from Swiss referendums," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 430-440, October.
    23. Kahn, Matthew E & Matsusaka, John G, 1997. "Demand for Environmental Goods: Evidence from Voting Patterns on California Initiatives," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 40(1), pages 137-173, April.
    24. Card, David, 2001. "Estimating the Return to Schooling: Progress on Some Persistent Econometric Problems," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 69(5), pages 1127-1160, September.
    25. Horacio Larreguy & John Marshall, 2017. "The Effect of Education on Civic and Political Engagement in Nonconsolidated Democracies: Evidence from Nigeria," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 99(3), pages 387-401, July.
    26. Hamilton, Stephen F. & Sunding, David L. & Zilberman, David, 2003. "Public goods and the value of product quality regulations: the case of food safety," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(3-4), pages 799-817, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Caitlin E. Ahearn & Jennie E. Brand & Xiang Zhou, 2023. "How, and For Whom, Does Higher Education Increase Voting?," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 64(4), pages 574-597, June.
    2. Le, Kien & Nguyen, My, 2021. "Education and political engagement," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Harka, Elona & Rocco, Lorenzo, 2022. "Studying more to vote less. Education and voter turnout in Italy," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    4. 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.
    5. Persson, Mikael & Lindgren, Karl-Oskar & Oskarsson, Sven, 2016. "How does education affect adolescents’ political development?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 182-193.
    6. Almén, Daniel & Elinder, Mikael & Engström, Per & Erixson, Oscar & Lundberg, Erik & Palme, Mårten, 2025. "Does Education Foster Civic-Minded Citizens? Evidence from a Compulsory Schooling Reform," Working Paper Series 1515, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    7. Stefano Carattini & Andrea Baranzini & Philippe Thalmann & Frédéric Varone & Frank Vöhringer, 2017. "Green Taxes in a Post-Paris World: Are Millions of Nays Inevitable?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 68(1), pages 97-128, September.
    8. An, Youngeun & Lee, Youngsun & Oh, Soon-young & Lee, Jeong Youn, 2024. "How can young adults be civically engaged? The role of academic achievement standards in enhancing civic and social engagement in the case of South Korea," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    9. Luna Bellani & Marisa Hidalgo-Hidalgo, 2023. "Educate Some to Represent Many? Education and Female Political Representation in Europe," Working Papers 23.12, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.
    10. Siedler, Thomas, 2007. "Schooling and Citizenship: Evidence from Compulsory Schooling Reforms," IZA Discussion Papers 2573, IZA Network @ LISER.
    11. Lo Prete, Anna, 2021. "Financial literacy, education, and voter turnout," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202105, University of Turin.
    12. Susan Dynarski, 2008. "Building the Stock of College-Educated Labor," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 43(3), pages 576-610.
    13. Naci Mocan & Luiza Pogorelova, 2014. "Compulsory Schooling Laws and Formation of Beliefs: Education, Religion and Superstition," NBER Working Papers 20557, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/5lge9h8e809258uvvpjn34ekm4 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Chevalier, Arnaud & Doyle, Orla, 2012. "Schooling and Voter Turnout: Is there an American Exception?," IZA Discussion Papers 6539, IZA Network @ LISER.
    16. Yuanyuan Ma, 2017. "Civic Returns to Education: Voter Turnout in Ireland," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 48(2), pages 145-169.
    17. Bellani, Luna & Hidalgo-Hidalgo, Marisa, 2025. "Bridging the gender gap: Women’s education and political representation," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    18. Lindgren, Karl-Oskar & Oskarsson, Sven & Persson, Mikael, 2017. "Can increased education help reduce the political opportunity gap?," Working Paper Series 2017:12, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    19. Rachel Milstein Sondheimer & Donald P. Green, 2010. "Using Experiments to Estimate the Effects of Education on Voter Turnout," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(1), pages 174-189, January.
    20. Meyer, Andrew, 2015. "Does education increase pro-environmental behavior? Evidence from Europe," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 108-121.
    21. Daniel Aaronson & Mark Borgschulte & Sunny Liu & Bhashkar Mazumder, 2024. "Schooling and Political Activism in the Early Civil Rights Era," Working Paper Series WP 2024-06, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:110:y:2024:i:c:s0738059324001627. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-educational-development .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.