From ideology to economy: how Confucianism and the Protestant ethic molded cultural norms, institutions, and divergent paths in Imperial China and early modern Europe

Ziruo Lin

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: This essay compares the influence of Confucianism in China and the Protestant ethic in Europe on both formal and informal institutions, examining their role in shaping divergent economic trajectories. Drawing on historical and institutional analysis, this essay integrates insights from economic history, sociology, and political theory. The findings contribute to debates on the cultural origins of the Great Divergence and offer broader insights into how culture interacts with governance structures and economic incentives over the long run. Understanding these historical dynamics is valuable not only for explaining the Great Divergence but also for interpreting contemporary patterns of development, governance, and social trust. In an era where policymakers and international organizations grapple with institutional reform, corruption, and cultural barriers to economic growth, the study highlights the importance of aligning institutional design with prevailing social norms to foster sustainable, inclusive development.

Keywords: Confuscanism; the Protestant ethic; ideology; economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N15 N30 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 5 pages
Date: 2025-10-14
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cna, nep-cul, nep-evo, nep-gro, nep-his and nep-hpe
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Published in Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences, 14, October, 2025, 222, pp. 133 - 137. ISSN: 2754-1169

Downloads: (external link)
http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/129934/ Open access version. (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ehl:lserod:129934

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library LSE Library Portugal Street London, WC2A 2HD, U.K.. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by LSERO Manager ().