Missionary Activity and Schooling in Former African Colonies: How Competition Mattered

The Journal of African Economies, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 294-329, 2010

Posted: 3 Dec 2010

See all articles by Francisco A. Gallego

Francisco A. Gallego

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Robert D. Woodberry

University of Texas at Austin

Date Written: March 6, 2010

Abstract

Using regional data for about 180 African provinces, we find that measures of Protestant missionary activity in the past are more correlated with schooling variables today than similar measures of Catholic missionary activity, as previous papers have suggested. However, we find that this effect is mainly driven by differences in Catholic areas (i.e., areas in which Catholic missionaries were protected from competition from Protestant missionaries in the past). This is not surprising because most former Catholic colonies had a number of restrictions to the operation of Protestant missionaries that benefited Catholic missionaries. Therefore, our results are consistent with an economic rationale in which different rules created differences in competitive pressures faced by Catholic and Protestant missionaries.

Keywords: Schooling, Institutions, Missionaries, Africa, Religion

JEL Classification: I20, N30, N37, N47, O15, Z12

Suggested Citation

Gallego, Francisco A. and Woodberry, Robert D., Missionary Activity and Schooling in Former African Colonies: How Competition Mattered (March 6, 2010). The Journal of African Economies, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 294-329, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1718345

Francisco A. Gallego (Contact Author)

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile ( email )

Casilla 76
Correo 17
Santiago
Chile

HOME PAGE: http://www.economia.puc.cl/fgallego

Robert D. Woodberry

University of Texas at Austin ( email )

2317 Speedway
Austin, TX Texas 78712
United States

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