Inequality and Civic Participation

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.