Publication in JEEA
A new study by Kjell G. Salvanes, Daron Acemoglu, Tuomas Pekkarinen, and Matti Sarvimäki explores the long-term impact of Norway’s 1936 Folk School Reform. It finds that the reform boosted education, labor income, and lasting support for the Norwegian Labour Party, shaping economic mobility and electoral behavior.
In 1935, the Norwegian Labour Party came to power for the first time and implemented a sweeping reform of the country’s school system. The reform was aimed at reducing disparities in rural education by increasing minimum instruction time, reducing class sizes, and raising teacher salaries. While these measures were intended to improve access to education, a new study by Kjell G. Salvanes, Daron Acemoglu, Tuomas Pekkarinen, and Matti Sarvimäki reveals that the reform’s effects went far beyond the classroom.
The researchers found that individuals who were more directly affected by the reform attained higher levels of education and earned higher wages in the labor market. However, their most striking finding is that the reform also generated a sustained increase in electoral support for the Norwegian Labour Party. This increased support was not a temporary effect but persisted for several decades, playing a crucial role in maintaining the social democratic coalition that defined much of Norway’s 20th-century political landscape.
Interestingly, the study finds that this shift in political preferences was not simply a direct consequence of higher education levels. Neither higher voter turnout nor targeted political efforts by the Labour Party in the municipalities most affected by the reform can fully explain the long-term rise in support. Instead, the evidence suggests that the people who benefited from the reform—and their parents—rewarded the Labour Party for enacting policies that had a tangible, positive impact on their lives.
These findings underscore the powerful link between education policy and political behavior. By improving education in underserved areas, the 1936 reform not only enhanced economic prospects for individuals but also shaped Norway’s political trajectory for generations. This study provides a compelling case for how major educational investments can have long-lasting effects on both economic and democratic development.