Does Education Matter? The Value of Higher Education for Voice and Agency in Sweden

Abstract

There is extensive research pointing to the positive effects of education in the form of labour market outcomes. These outcomes are vital when evaluating education; there are however additional outcomes of education that also might be important for good human life. From this point of view, education could affect non-market areas such as democracy, gender equality and civic engagement. This paper seeks to extend research through an analysis of the relation between level of education on two vital non-market capabilities: agency and voice. The study uses an eight-year longitudinal national survey of 1 058 Swedish youth, controlling for baseline values of voice and agency. Results show that university education increases young people’s capabilities of voice and agency.