Comments on: The Role of Missionaries in Social and Institutional Change http://organizationsandmarkets.com/2008/02/28/the-role-of-missionaries-in-social-and-institutional-change/ Economics of organizations, strategy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and more Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:12:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Alison Kemper http://organizationsandmarkets.com/2008/02/28/the-role-of-missionaries-in-social-and-institutional-change/#comment-69727 Alison Kemper Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:30:49 +0000 http://organizationsandmarkets.wordpress.com/?p=1399#comment-69727 I wonder if we can look forward to Woodberry working on something with Nathan Nunn one day? Wouldn't that be fun! I wonder if we can look forward to Woodberry working on something with Nathan Nunn one day? Wouldn’t that be fun!

]]> By: Peter Klein http://organizationsandmarkets.com/2008/02/28/the-role-of-missionaries-in-social-and-institutional-change/#comment-69721 Peter Klein Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:30:43 +0000 http://organizationsandmarkets.wordpress.com/?p=1399#comment-69721 Yes, this is very different work than Greif's, however. While Greif focuses on relationships within the religious community (i.e., the development of trust that facilitated long-distance trade), Woodberry's project deals with the effects of religious (missionary) activity outside the group, i.e., the role that missionaries played in fostering social change in their host countries. The role of the missionaries in the abolition of slavery is particularly interesting. In Africa and the Caribbean the missionaries were typically the only Europeans, besides the slave-masters themselves, with any direct knowledge of local conditions and it was their reports back home, sometimes delivered in person after they were expelled from the host countries by colonial administrators, that fostered anti-slavery sentiment, particularly in Britain. Yes, this is very different work than Greif’s, however. While Greif focuses on relationships within the religious community (i.e., the development of trust that facilitated long-distance trade), Woodberry’s project deals with the effects of religious (missionary) activity outside the group, i.e., the role that missionaries played in fostering social change in their host countries. The role of the missionaries in the abolition of slavery is particularly interesting. In Africa and the Caribbean the missionaries were typically the only Europeans, besides the slave-masters themselves, with any direct knowledge of local conditions and it was their reports back home, sometimes delivered in person after they were expelled from the host countries by colonial administrators, that fostered anti-slavery sentiment, particularly in Britain.

]]> By: Alison Kemper http://organizationsandmarkets.com/2008/02/28/the-role-of-missionaries-in-social-and-institutional-change/#comment-69716 Alison Kemper Sat, 01 Mar 2008 04:22:53 +0000 http://organizationsandmarkets.wordpress.com/?p=1399#comment-69716 Avner Greif showed that a particular religious community contains specific economic institutions that work differently from other religious communities. Sectarian effects are profound. On a different note, David Baron has a working paper which models morally motivated self regulation. He makes very fine distinctions about types of altruism. It sounds nearly theological. Avner Greif showed that a particular religious community contains specific economic institutions that work differently from other religious communities. Sectarian effects are profound.

On a different note, David Baron has a working paper which models morally motivated self regulation. He makes very fine distinctions about types of altruism. It sounds nearly theological.

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