Publication

This paper examines the effects of ethnic diversity on a country's education outcomes. Drawing on theories on social sanctioning, clientelism and politicized ethnicity, the author statistically tests a data set of district level school enrollment in 31 African countries in combination with newly coded indicators for district ethnic diversity, district shares of presidents’ co-ethnics and existing ethnic parties. The statistical model supports the sanctioning and clientelism theory and provides first evidence for a positive effect of ethnic parties on enrollment.