The Culture and Institutions of Confucianism

Ruixue Jia and James Kai-sing Kung

No 33883, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This study reviews the culture and institutions of Confucianism and explores their implications for the trajectory of China’s historical development. We trace the origins and evolution of the core elements of Confucianism and synthesize research on its relationship to clan culture, state institutions, and a broad array of societal values. We also highlight promising but underexplored directions for future research. While Confucianism is often invoked to explain China’s absence from the Industrial Revolution and its lack of democratization, we caution against such retrospective determinism. As a multidimensional and abstract tradition, Confucianism likely allows for varied interpretations and institutional adaptations across time and context.

JEL-codes: N15 O43 P51 Z10 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-05
Note: DEV POL
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