We use variation in historical state centralization to examine the long-term impact of institutions on cultural norms.The Kuba Kingdom, established Central Africa early 17th century by King Shyaam, had more developed than other independent villages and chieftaincies region.It an unwritten constitution, separation political powers, a judicial system with courts juries, police force, military, taxation, significant public goods provision.Comparing individuals from Kingdom those just outside we...

Between 1921 and 1956, French colonial governments organized medical campaigns to treat prevent sleeping sickness. Villagers were forcibly examined injected with medications severe, sometimes fatal, side effects. We digitized 30 years of archival records document the locations campaign visits at a granular geographic level for five central African countries. find that greater exposure reduces vaccination rates trust in medicine, as measured by willingness consent blood test. examine...

Abstract All colonial powers granted concessions to private companies extract natural resources during the era. In Africa, these were characterized by indirect rule and violence. We use arbitrarily defined borders of rubber in north Congo Free State examine causal effects this form economic organization on development. find that historical exposure causes significantly worse education, wealth, health outcomes. To mechanisms, we collect survey experimental data from individuals near a former...

We use a variant of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to examine individuals' implicit attitudes towards various ethnic groups. Using population from Democratic Republic Congo, we find that IAT measures show evidence an bias in favor one's own ethnicity. Individuals have views their group are more positive than other this be quantitatively smaller (explicit) one finds when using self-reported about different

Matrilineal kinship systems—where descent is traced through mothers only—are present all over the world but are most concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. We explore relationship between exposure to Africa’s external slave trades, during which millions of people were shipped from continent a 400-year period, and evolution matrilineal kinship. Scholars have hypothesized that kinship, well-suited incorporating new members, maintaining lineage continuity insulating children removal parents...

While women generally prefer to compete less than men, cultural practices and physiological responses competition may affect willingness compete. I examine how kinship structure stress the gender gap in a lab experiment among individuals from 27 ethnic groups along matrilineal belt Central Africa. find no evidence that relative patrilineal closes competition: 80% of men 60% choose with differential effect across systems. Using data, who experience greater during are likely

We use variation in historical state centralization to examine the impact of institutions on cultural norms.The Kuba Kingdom, established Central Africa early 17th century by King Shyaam, had more developed than other independent villages and chieftaincies region.It an unwritten constitution, separation political powers, a judicial system with courts juries, police force military, taxation, significant public goods provision.Comparing individuals from Kingdom those just outside we find that...

Economists are increasingly interested in understanding how culture shapes outcomes for women and the origins of these cultural practices. I review recent work economics on affects well-being developing countries, much which is motivated by anthropology. present evidence role kinship structure, particularly matrilineal relative to patrilineal systems, shaping women's preferences, exposure domestic violence, health education children. Additionally, discuss research effects practices, such as...

In most of Africa, traditional supernatural beliefs, including beliefs in witchcraft, black magic, or fetishism, are widespread and have remained so despite the spread Christianity. The effects these remain unclear. Some hypothesized that beneficial help to sustain cooperative behavior a setting where state is often absent. Others documented that, inconsistent with this argument, such negatively associated economic social wellbeing. We contribute better understanding causal by using...

While observational evidence suggests that people behave more prosocially toward members of their own ethnic group, many laboratory studies fail to find this effect. One possible explanation is coethnic preference only emerges during times stress. To test hypothesis, we pharmacologically increase levels the stress hormone cortisol, after which participants complete experiments with coethnics and non-coethnics. We mixed increased cortisol decreases prosocial behavior. Coethnic preferences do...

All colonial powers granted concessions to private companies extract natural resources during the era. Within Africa, these were characterized by indirect rule and violence. We use arbitrarily defined borders of rubber in north Congo Free State examine causal effects this form economic organization on development. find that historical exposure causes significantly worse education, wealth, health outcomes. To mechanisms, we collect survey experimental data from individuals near a former...

Moral universalism, the extent to which individuals exhibit similar altruism and trust towards in-group out-group members, varies widely across societies. We test hypothesis from anthropology that requirements of transhumant pastoralism – a livelihood in populations seasonally migrate herd livestock made highly interdependent cohesive within groups but hostile beyond radius extended kin. Using global data, we find historical reliance on is strongly predictive greater relative trust. This...

Kinship structure – how extended families are organized varies across societies and may have implications for outcomes within the household. A key source of variation in kinship is whether lineage inheritance traced through women, as matrilineal systems, or men, patrilineal systems. Anthropologists hypothesized that systems benefit women because they greater support from their kin husbands less authority over wives. However, believed these same factors also reduce spousal cooperation. I test...

Extended family members can help women with childcare. Using data from 32 sub-Saharan African countries, we find that the prevalence of nuclear families relative to extended is increasing over time. The overall share 56 percent and higher in rural areas. We then use detailed time-use on childcare provision 110 villages Democratic Republic Congo. while do receive assistance their family, they provide 84 hours. These results highlight need for formal provision, particularly

Significance State centralization occurs when previously separate communities are united, forming a single political system often associated with economy, trade, warfare, and culture. One example is the precolonial Kuba Kingdom of Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). Using genetic data from over 690 individuals DRC, we compared whose ancestors were part to other neighboring groups. We found legacy state formation that can be explained by joining subsequent mixing groups at time centralization,...