The Protestant Legacy: Missions and Human Capital in India

Abstract

We study the long-run consequences of Protestant missionary activities in colonial India on present-day literacy rates and gender equality in literacy. Following the principle of Sola Scriptura, Protestant missionaries promoted universal literacy to enable individuals to read the Bible for themselves. To advance female education, missionary women were often sent directly to the Zenana (the women's quarter of the house) to teach. We combine information on the spatial distribution of Protestant missions and the gender composition of missionaries in early twentieth century India with contemporary administrative and survey data. We document a robust long-term link between historical exposure to Protestant missions and human capital today. This relationship is particularly strong for women. The analysis of transmission channels indicates that shifts in gender norms and the early construction of schools are the main drivers.