Education and nation-state fragility: Evidence from panel data analysis

We empirically investigate the efficacy of current US foreign assistance policy and state-building efforts on state fragility through the effects of school enrollment levels on state fragility. This is accomplished by investigating whether levels of school enrollments (primary, secondary, or tertiary) can predict nation-state fragility; which level of enrollments has the highest effect on the levels of fragility and is subsequently the best investment for foreign assistance efforts; and whether there is a difference in levels of nation-state fragility based on changes in the average number of years of school enrollment. Results indicate education is capable of mitigating state fragility and promoting stable regimes under certain conditions.