Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State

James Kung (), Ömer Özak, Louis Putterman and Shuang Shi ()
Additional contact information
James Kung: The University of Hong Kong
Shuang Shi: The University of Hong Kong

No 2202, Departmental Working Papers from Southern Methodist University, Department of Economics

Abstract: We empirically test a theory of endogenous formation and persistence of mega-states, using China as an example. We constructed a novel dataset to explore the relationship between the diffusion of agriculture, migratory distance, and social complexity-cum-historical presence of Chinese states across 1 degree x 1 degree grid cells in eastern Asia. We find that cells that adopted agriculture earlier and were close to Erlitou -- the earliest political center in eastern Asia -- remained under Chinese control for longer and continue to be a part of China today. Conversely, early adopters located farther away had enough time to develop into independent states.

Keywords: Comparative Development; State-Building; State formation; Emergence of States; Agricultural Adoption; Agriculture; Isolation; Neolithic Revolution; Social Complexity; Stickiness to China; East Asia; China; Erlitou (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F50 F59 H70 H79 N90 O10 R10 Z10 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-cna, nep-evo, nep-gro and nep-his
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https://ftp1.economics.smu.edu/WorkingPapers/2022/OZAK/OZAK-2022-06.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State (2022)
Working Paper: Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State (2022)
Working Paper: Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State (2022)
Working Paper: Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State (2022)
Working Paper: Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State (2022)
Working Paper: Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State (2020)
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