Propaganda works.
We study the causal effect of school curricula on students’ stated beliefs and attitudes. We exploit a major textbook reform in China that was rolled out between 2004 and 2010 with the explicit intention of shaping youths’ ideology.
To measure its effect, we present evidence from a novel survey we conducted among 2000 students at Peking University. The sharp, staggered introduction of the new curriculum across provinces allows us to identify the effects of the new educational content in a generalized difference in differences framework.
We examine government documents articulating desired consequences of the reform, and identify changes in textbook content and college entrance exams that reflect the government’s aims.
These changes were often effective: study under the new curriculum is robustly associated with changed views on political participation and democracy in China, increased trust in government officials, and a more skeptical view of free markets.
Before you disapprove: The Chinese are merely fine tuning what the Americans and Europeans have done brilliantly for decades or longer.
The paper, by Cantoni, Chen, Yang, Yuchtman, and Zhang.
23 Responses
RT @jesusalfar: Utilizar la escuela para adoctrinar funciona http://t.co/dwjaX2a526
RT @jesusalfar: Utilizar la escuela para adoctrinar funciona http://t.co/dwjaX2a526
Utilizar la escuela para adoctrinar funciona http://t.co/dwjaX2a526
Relevant for Pakistan – study on textbook reform in China finds students increased trust in govt. http://t.co/SUcjQODosR via @cblatts
Manufacturing a compliant Chinese generation, one textbook at a time http://t.co/bDrqk1WyJe @cblatts shares interesting research paper
RT @cblatts: Manufacturing a compliant Chinese generation, one textbook at a time http://t.co/5ODWdB44mv
RT @KevinSlaten: Manufacturing a compliant Chinese generation, one textbook at a time http://t.co/OXSLcwBe9Y
Manufacturing a compliant Chinese generation, one textbook at a time http://t.co/OXSLcwBe9Y
definitely going to add this to the “will read when done with head school list” @cblatts http://t.co/pvCAsDqPA3
RT @gabster0191: Manufacturing a compliant Chinese generation, one textbook at a time http://t.co/HEcMpQsbv4 #economics #feedly
Manufacturing a compliant Chinese generation, one textbook at a time http://t.co/HEcMpQsbv4 #economics #feedly
RT @cblatts: How Chinese textbook changes raised trust in govt and antipathy for democracy & free markets later in life http://t.co/GZ4bFVP…
RT @cblatts: How Chinese textbook changes raised trust in govt and antipathy for democracy & free markets later in life http://t.co/GZ4bFVP…
RT @cblatts: How Chinese textbook changes raised trust in govt and antipathy for democracy & free markets later in life http://t.co/GZ4bFVP…
@cblatts What a “bias-free” textbook would look like? I also wonder how this study would turn out if conducted in the US and Europe.
Manufacturing a compliant Chinese generation, one textbook at a time: Propaganda works. We study the causal ef… http://t.co/PBjRCmN5WV
RT @cblatts: How Chinese textbook changes raised trust in govt and antipathy for democracy & free markets later in life http://t.co/GZ4bFVP…
@cblatts Yep! Lu’s paper in the latest issue of the International Political Science Review gives more consequences http://t.co/Fa1ZLxfhbu
RT @cblatts: How Chinese textbook changes raised trust in govt and antipathy for democracy & free markets later in life http://t.co/GZ4bFVP…
RT @cblatts: Manufacturing a compliant Chinese generation, one textbook at a time http://t.co/5ODWdB44mv
RT @cblatts: How Chinese textbook changes raised trust in govt and antipathy for democracy & free markets later in life http://t.co/GZ4bFVP…
RT @cblatts: How Chinese textbook changes raised trust in govt and antipathy for democracy & free markets later in life http://t.co/GZ4bFVP…
How Chinese textbook changes raised trust in govt and antipathy for democracy & free markets later in life http://t.co/GZ4bFVPIGg