Politics & Governance / Domestic Politics / Democracy & Elections

Does Education Really Make You a Better Citizen? US vs UK Evidence

Kevin Milligan, Enrico Moretti, Philip Oreopoulos

We've always heard that education makes you a better citizen. But is that actually true? Or is it just that smarter, more motivated people tend to get more education? This video breaks down a landmark study published in the Journal of Public Economics by Milligan, Moretti, and Oreopoulos. Using changes in compulsory schooling laws in the US and UK, they found a shocking truth: education does boost voting—but only in America. In the UK, where voter registration is automatic, education had almost zero effect on turnout. The key? It’s not about making you care more; it’s about helping you jump through bureaucratic hoops. Watch to see how your country's voting system might be hiding the real impact of education on democracy.