The Catholic Church, Education, and Labor Productivity in the Philippines: A Historical Perspective

Date

6-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Emmanuel Genesis Andal

Committee Member

Gideon P. Carnaje, Maria Angeles O. Catelo

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Abstract

This study investigates how Catholic educational institutions in the Philippines, particularly during the Spanish colonial period, influenced labor productivity through human capital formation. Grounded in the New Institutional Economics (NIE) framework, it examines how institutional characteristics—such as elite-controlled access, a doctrine-centered curriculum, and alignment with colonial authority—shaped long-term educational and economic outcomes. Employing a historical-institutional approach, the research synthesizes international empirical literature with archival and secondary sources on Catholic schooling in the Philippines. While global studies highlight the potential of Catholic schools to improve educational outcomes, this study finds that in the Philippine context, their institutional features fostered a form of human capital focused on moral discipline and civic obedience, rather than technical or economically productive skills. The interpretive synthesis reveals that many of these characteristics have persisted beyond the colonial era. As a result, Catholic education’s contribution to labor productivity has been uneven—benefiting elites while limiting broader skill formation necessary for inclusive economic growth. The continued structural barriers to access suggest that historical incentive structures remain embedded, constraining productivity gains across socioeconomic classes.

Language

English

LC Subject

Religious education—Study and teaching, Labor productivity--Effect of education on

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2025 E2 C37

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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