Benjamin Harris

Inequality and Civic Participation Benjamin Harris

This book considers how inequality of income and educational attainment affects participation in local government and community development. Adapting a standard economic model, it shows that increases in inequality can decrease overall group participation and individuals' likelihood of participating. The theory predicts, however, that increasing the responsiveness of civic bodies to input from citizens can mitigate the negative effects of inequality. Original survey data from over 680 households in Missoula, Montana is then analyzed to test the implications of the theory. In Missoula, people have 3 ways of participating: not at all, alone, or in groups. The analysis shows that people living in neighborhoods with high inequality are less likely to drop out entirely, but more likely to participate alone. This effect is greatest under high educational inequality. These results support what many already know: equal access to education is a necessary ingredient for a healthy democracy. But they also show how governments can use new technology to promote a more vibrant and engaged citizenry.