Unified China and divided Europe

Mark Koyama, Chiu Yu Ko and Tuan-Hwee Sng ()
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Tuan-Hwee Sng: National University of Singapore

No 14005, Working Papers from Economic History Society

Abstract: "This paper studies the causes and consequences of political centralization and fragmentation in China and Europe. We argue that a severe and unidirectional threat of external invasion fostered centralization in China while Europe faced a wider variety of smaller external threats and remained fragmented. Political centralization in China led to lower taxation and hence faster population growth during peacetime compared to Europe. But it also meant that China was more vulnerable to occasional negative population shocks. Our results are consistent with historical evidence of warfare, capital city location, tax levels, and population growth in both China and Europe."

Keywords: China; Europe; Great Divergence; Political Fragmentation; Political Centralization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H2 H4 H56 N30 N33 N35 N40 N43 N45 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-03
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Related works:
Journal Article: UNIFIED CHINA AND DIVIDED EUROPE (2018)
Working Paper: Unified China and Divided Europe (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ehs:wpaper:14005

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