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Missionary Influence on Marriage Practices: Evidence from the Livingstonia Mission in Malawi†

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  • Yuya Kudo

Abstract

By focusing on the unique setting of one Protestant mission (Livingstonia Mission) dating back to the late 19th century in Malawi, this study investigates the long-lasting missionary influence on female marital practices, based on individual-level data provided by the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (2000, 2004 and 2010). Exploiting geographical distance to the influential mission station as a measure of exposure to the missionary influence, together with an abundance of historical, geographic and climate controls, this study finds that the mission encouraged females to postpone their first marriage, while discouraging their engagement in polygynous relationships. In addition, due to the missionary influence, females were also motivated to convert to Christianity as well as to attain academic skills. These findings suggest that Christian attitudes and values, along with the missionary educational investment, may play a role in explaining the missionary influence on marital practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuya Kudo, 2017. "Missionary Influence on Marriage Practices: Evidence from the Livingstonia Mission in Malawi†," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 26(3), pages 372-431.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:26:y:2017:i:3:p:372-431.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jae/ejx003
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Remi Jedwab & Felix Meier zu Selhausen & Alexander Moradi, 2022. "The economics of missionary expansion: evidence from Africa and implications for development," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 149-192, June.
    2. David Lawson & Mhairi A. Gibson, 2018. "Polygynous marriage and child health in sub-Saharan Africa: What is the evidence for harm?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 39(6), pages 177-208.
    3. André, Pierre & Dupraz, Yannick, 2023. "Education and polygamy: Evidence from Cameroon," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    4. Ananyev, Maxim & Poyker, Michael, 2021. "Christian missions and anti-gay attitudes in Africa," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 359-374.
    5. Congdon Fors, Heather & Isaksson, Ann-Sofie & Annika, Lindskog, 2023. "Changing local customs: Long-run impacts of the earliest campaigns against female genital cutting," Working Papers in Economics 831, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    6. Stelios Michalopoulos & Elias Papaioannou, 2020. "Historical Legacies and African Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 58(1), pages 53-128, March.
    7. Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr. & Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel, 2021. "Religiosity and parental educational aspirations for children in Kenya," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Christianity; early marriage; education; mission; polygyny;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • N37 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Africa; Oceania
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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