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Jesus speaks Korean : Christianity and literacy in colonial Korea

Author

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  • Becker, Sascha O

    (Monash U and U Warwick, CAGE, CEPR, CESifo, Ifo, IZA and ROA)

  • Won, Cheongyeon

    (Monash Business School)

Abstract

In the mid 19th century, pre-colonial Korea under the Joseon dynasty was increasingly isolated and lagging behind in its economic development. Joseon Korea was forced to sign unequal treaties with foreign powers as a result of which Christian missionaries entered the country and contributed to the establishment of private schools. We show that areas with a larger presence of Christians have higher literacy rates in 1930, during the Japanese colonial period. We also show that a higher number of Protestants is associated with higher female literacy, consistent with a stronger emphasis on female education in Protestant denominations.

Suggested Citation

  • Becker, Sascha O & Won, Cheongyeon, 2021. "Jesus speaks Korean : Christianity and literacy in colonial Korea," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1322, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:wrk:warwec:1322
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Mitch & Gabriele Cappelli (ed.), 2019. "Globalization and the Rise of Mass Education," Palgrave Studies in Economic History, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-3-030-25417-9, March.
    2. Felipe Valencia Caicedo, 2019. "The Mission: Human Capital Transmission, Economic Persistence, and Culture in South America," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(1), pages 507-556.
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    4. Kimura, Mitsuhiko, 1993. "Standards of Living in Colonial Korea: Did the Masses Become Worse Off or Better Off Under Japanese Rule?," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 53(3), pages 629-652, September.
    5. Becker, Sascha O. & Cinnirella, Francesco, 2020. "Prussia disaggregated: the demography of its universe of localities in 1871," Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 86(3), pages 259-290, September.
    6. 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.
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    8. Ewout H.P. Frankema, 2012. "The origins of formal education in sub-Saharan Africa: was British rule more benign?," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 16(4), pages 335-355, November.
    9. Ying Bai & James Kai-sing Kung, 2015. "Diffusing Knowledge While Spreading God'S Message: Protestantism And Economic Prosperity In China, 1840–1920," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 13(4), pages 669-698, August.
    10. Carlo Ciccarelli & Jacob Weisdorf, 2019. "Pioneering into the past: Regional literacy developments in Italy before Italy," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 23(3), pages 329-364.
    11. Felipe Valencia Caicedo, 2019. "Missionaries in Latin America and Asia: A First Global Mass Education Wave," Palgrave Studies in Economic History, in: David Mitch & Gabriele Cappelli (ed.), Globalization and the Rise of Mass Education, chapter 0, pages 61-97, Palgrave Macmillan.
    12. Francesco Cinnirella & Jochen Streb, 2017. "The role of human capital and innovation in economic development: evidence from post-Malthusian Prussia," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 193-227, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chiara Natalie Focacci & Mitja Kovac & Rok Spruk, 2022. "The perils of Kremlin's influence: evidence from Ukraine," Papers 2206.04950, arXiv.org.
    2. Izumi, Yutaro & Park, Sangyoon & Yang, Hyunjoo, 2023. "The effects of South Korean Protestantism on human capital and female empowerment, 1930–2010," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 422-438.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Literacy ; Religion ; Missionaries ; Gender gap ; Korea. JEL Classification: I21 ; N35 ; Z12 ; J16.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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