An Early Modern Economy in China
The Yangzi Delta in the 1820s

The first English translation of Li Bozhong's pioneering study of GDP in early modern China.

Bozhong Li (Author)

9781108479202, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 July 2021

360 pages, 6 maps 75 tables
23.5 x 15.8 x 4 cm, 1.04 kg

'This is a monumental book in Chinese economic history. It is the first in-depth study of GDP in Jiangnan (the Yangzi Delta), which has been the most prosperous region in China for millennium, before the coming of the West. Readers of the book should thank the author for combing through thousands of historical documents and modern investigations to fill a gap in the study of Chinese economic history. The present is a continuity of the past. The book is must read in Chinese history. It helps the readers understand how China's miraculous growth after Deng Xiaoping's Reform and Opening up in 1978 is possible.' Justin Yifu Lin, Dean, Institute for New Structural Economics Peking University; former Chief Economist of the World Bank

The first English translation of Li Bozhong's pioneering study An Early Modern Economy in China uses sophisticated analysis to reconstruct the GDP of the Yangzi Delta. In this innovative economic history, Li provides a basis for understanding the Delta's economy, an area of unprecedented growth in modern times. Using quantitative research Li carefully reconstructs the economies of the region, combining three methods for estimating GDP: output, income, and expenditure. The result reveals the structure and level of income and production in this highly commercialized and urbanized part of China, establishing a benchmark for future reconstructions of regional economies through GDP. This is a landmark text in the field of economic history which has had a great impact on understanding Chinese economic history in global perspective.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Themes, methods, sources
2. Huating-Lou in the 1820s
Part II. Industries: 3. Agriculture
4. Industry
5. Services
Part III. Added Values: 6. Agriculture
7. Industry
8. Services
Part IV. Employment, Income and Consumption: 9. Employment
10. Income
11. Consumption
Part V. Conclusion: 12. The GDP and HDI of Huating-Lou in 1823–1829
13. The Huating-Lou economy of 1823–29 in comparative perspective
Appendices.

Subject Areas: Economic history [KCZ], Social & cultural history [HBTB], Asian history [HBJF]