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The Devil is in the Detail: Christian Missions’ Heterogeneous Effects on Development in sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Julia Cage

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Valeria Rueda

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

Throughout history, religious change is known to have brought about significant economic change in many countries. This column, taken from a recent Vox eBook, looks at the effects of the Christian missionary activity that expanded throughout African countries from the middle of the 19th century. It shows how the diversity of investments brought by Christian missionaries to the region had different, and sometimes conflicting, effects on long-term development.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Cage & Valeria Rueda, 2017. "The Devil is in the Detail: Christian Missions’ Heterogeneous Effects on Development in sub-Saharan Africa," Post-Print hal-03259774, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03259774
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sascha O. Becker & Ludger Woessmann, 2009. "Was Weber Wrong? A Human Capital Theory of Protestant Economic History," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 124(2), pages 531-596.
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    7. McCleary, Rachel M., 2013. "Protestantism and Human Capital in Guatemala and the Republic of Korea," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 332, Asian Development Bank.
    8. Julia Cagé & Valeria Rueda, 2016. "The Long-Term Effects of the Printing Press in Sub-Saharan Africa," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 8(3), pages 69-99, July.
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