Are educated individuals more likely to be civically engaged? Evidence from rural Bangladesh

Abstract

In the context of the Global South, including Bangladesh, education is often advocated for its labor market and economic returns. However, education also yields non-labor-market benefits that contribute to societal and economic transformation. Understanding these non-economic private and social returns is critical to justify continued public investment in education. This paper examines the relationship between education and civic engagement in rural Bangladesh. Using nationally representative data from the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) and applying logit, Poisson, and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) models, we investigate how different levels of formal education are associated with civic behaviors. The findings indicate that higher educational attainment significantly increases individuals' likelihood of public speaking and community contributions, highlighting the civic benefits of education. While acknowledging the limitations of causal inference, the analysis underscores the importance of education in fostering active civic participation in rural settings. These results suggest that public investment in education not only promotes economic growth but also strengthens civic engagement, a cornerstone for sustainable development and social cohesion.