#Econhist papers I (mostly) admire, Mar 2024

Bronze, pastoralism, telephones, missionaries, the gender pay gap, movies, financial crises, and more...

Every month I handpick and review ten standout papers in economic history. As a paid member, you’ll unlock exclusive access to the full, curated list every month.

1. The dawn of civilization: Metal trade and the rise of hierarchy

By Matthias Flückiger, Mario Larch, Markus Ludwig and Luigi Pascali

Research question: The authors explore why, from the fourth millennium BCE, some human societies transformed from simple farming communities into complex urban civilisations with cities and significant inequalities. It investigates whether the discovery of bronze and the increase in long-distance trade played a crucial role in this transformation.

Main findings: The findings suggest that areas connected by trade routes between metal mines and fertile lands were more likely to witness the emergence of cities and hierarchical social structures. This points to the importance of trade in the development of early civilisations, revealing how strategic locations and resources facilitated the rise of powerful elites and the first urban centres.

My takeaway: Ironworking developed in Africa between 3000 and 2500 BCE, not long after the invention of bronze. Why did the invention of steel not spur similar developments?

2. The sins of the church: The long-term impacts of Christian missionary praxis on HIV and sexual behaviour in Zambia

By Chanda Chiseni

Research question: The author examines the long-term effect of Christian missionary exposure on HIV infection rates and related sexual behaviour in Zambia. Using the distance to historical missionary churches and health facilities as proxies for missionary exposure, the study constructs a geocoded dataset combining historical locations of churches and missionary health centres with contemporary individual-level data.

Main findings: Individuals living close to a historical missionary church have a higher likelihood of being infected with HIV, with no significant effect observed from proximity to missionary health centres. Proximity to historical missionary churches is associated with a higher number of lifetime sex partners and an earlier age at first sexual encounter, with effects being stronger for men than women. This finding contrasts with the expectation that missionary influence might encourage more conservative sexual behaviours.

My takeaway: How religion shapes human behaviour, in the past and present, remains a fascinating area of study. Missionaries in Africa interacted with local populations in unexpected ways. Whereas most of the focus has been on the long-lasting impacts of education, this paper helps us understand the (poor) health consequences.