State Failure and Political Instability: The Impact of Educational Attainment in Africa

Authors

Jesse D. Neugarten, Oberlin CollegeFollow

Abstract

I investigate the role of educational attainment on state failure and political stability across the African continent. For the empirical analysis, I estimate a Linear Probability Model (LPM) for State Failure by Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). I hypothesize that differences in educational attainment in Africa can explain differences in political stability and state failure. Furthermore, I believe that this effect has persisted over time and that early educational attainment in the late colonial and early independence era is a significant determinant of state affairs in more recent times. I find that early secondary educational attainment explains higher state stability, while tertiary education explains more state instability later on.

Recommended Citation

Neugarten, Jesse D. (2015) "State Failure and Political Instability: The Impact of Educational Attainment in Africa," Undergraduate Economic Review: Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 11.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/uer/vol11/iss1/11