The Role of Higher Education in Shaping Attitudes to the Environment and Economic Growth: Evidence From the World Values Survey

Abstract

Research on the determinants of public attitudes on the environment requires a focus on factors influencing values and responses across countries. One important influence is the global expansion of university education in recent decades, with increased higher education attainment emerging as a potentially important factor affecting public support for the environment across countries. This paper provides evidence on the impact of higher education attainment on environmental attitudes at the global level using data from 37 countries in the World Values Survey (WVS). The key finding from this analysis is a statistically significant positive relationship between higher education attainment and a preference for environmental protection over the exclusive support of economic growth, one that persisted in key sub-samples delineated by gender, generation, and country income level. This suggests that the impact of higher education on shaping environmental views is significant, persistent, and pervasive, with important implications for both environmental and education policy.