https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82005617767

Meeting ID: 820 0561 7767
Passcode: 842883

Abstract

Parenting styles are shaped by institutional, economic, and cultural forces. This study examines the colonial legacy of Christian missions in Africa on contemporary authoritarian parenting. We link geo-referenced data on early-1900s Christian mission locations to recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) from 21 African countries to study child discipline and parental investments. While proximity to historical missions is associated with higher parental investments in child development—consistent with a positive role of missions in human capital accumulation—it also increases the likelihood that children experience corporal and emotional punishment. These effects are stronger near Protestant missions and for boys. We provide suggestive evidence on mechanisms: missionary schools propagated norms that endorsed physical punishment as a tool to instill respect for authority and “good morals,” embedding violent disciplinary practices within families and across generations.