Reading, writing, and regime type: Democracy's impact on primary school enrollment

This study examines the relationship between democracy and the accumulation of human capital. Specifically I examine regime type's impact on primary school enrollment in the developing world. The statistical analysis establishes that poor democracies enroll a larger percentage of the school-age population than do their authoritarian counter parts. Models using dichotomous and continuous measurer of democracy indicate that the institutions associated with individual rights and electoral competition have an important effect on primary school enrollment. Estimates from a selection bias model that account for education's impact on democracy corroborate the results. One possible explanation is that democratic politicians, facing electoral pressures, are compelled to provide a minimum level of educational opportunity for their citizens. Democracy is often criticized for its inability to insulate politicians from the demands made by society. To the extent that the accumulation of human capital generates economic growth, democracy's inability to withstand popular demands may be an important advantage.