Utbildningseffekten : – En kvantitativ studie som undersöker skillnaden i samband gällande effekter av utbildning mellan de nordiska länderna och andra länder i Europa

Sammanfattning: The education level has proven to be a good predictor of a range of important outcomes. However, despite substantial research, there are still areas to further explore and as far as the author is aware of, a study comparing education effects between different regions has not been conducted. The aim of this paper is to link previous theory and research and use it to examine effects of the education level on four different areas; politics, health and well-being, social trust and nationalism and immigration. Specifically, focus is on exploring potential differences regarding education effects between the Nordic countries and other countries in Europe. The study was conducted using a quantitative method by analyzing data from European Social Survey covering the period 2012–2016. By adding interaction terms to the regression models this study indicated that the education effects were robust, with higher education levels being associated with higher trust and political interest, better health and well-being, and with less political cynicism and less negative attitudes towards immigration. The study also identified that the education effects differ between the Nordics compared to other European countries. Analysis of the data showed that the education effects related to politics and nationalism and immigration were stronger in the Nordic countries compared to other countries in Europe. In contrast, education effects related to health and well-being and social trust were stronger in other countries in Europe compared to the Nordics.