The role of education in shaping voter turnout

: evidence from Portugal

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between education and voter turnout in Portugal, contributing to the literature on the non-monetary returns to education. Research on this topic remains limited in the Portuguese context, despite its growing relevance as electoral participation has been steadily declining. Using data from The International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) covering the 2002, 2005, and 2011 parliamentary elections, this study investigates how an additional year of education influences voter turnout. Using an Instrumental Variable (IV) approach, the findings indicate a positive causal relationship between education and voter turnout, with each additional year of education increasing the likelihood of voting by 5.1 percentage points. Regarding heterogeneity, the estimate of education’s impact on voter turnout is higher for females and is strongest among younger individuals.

Date of Award	6 May 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Hugo Reis (Supervisor)