Many have suggested that expanding mass education could reduce political inequalities stemming from family background. This study examines if a large-scale school reform in Sweden during the 1950s achieved this goal.
Using difference-in-difference analysis on data covering the entire Swedish population born between 1943 and 1955, we investigate how the reform—lengthening schooling before tracking divisions took place—affects political recruitment. We explore whether individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds were more likely to enter politics due to improved educational opportunities.
Key Findings: The empirical results provide strong support for the hypothesis that expanded education can effectively reduce social biases in elected assemblies.
Implications: This historical evidence suggests that educational policy may be a viable tool to enhance political representation from diverse backgrounds.
| Can Political Inequalities Be Educated Away? Evidence from a Large-scale Reform was authored by Karl-Oskar Lindgren, Sven Oskarsson and Christopher Dawes. It was published by Wiley in AJPS in 2017. |
