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Paying the price for spiritual enlightenment: tax pressure and living standards in Kofun and Asuka-Nara, Japan (c.300-794 AD)

Author

Listed:
  • Jean-Pascal Bassino

    (Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon)

  • Masanori Takashima

    (Hitotsubashi University)

Abstract

"Did the twin processes of political centralization and urbanization in ancient economies affect the wellbeing of commoners? We propose a cost-benefit analysis based on institutional and quantitative information on public revenues (poll tax, land tax, and corvée labour) and expenditures during the Kofun period (ca 300-538) and the Asuka-Nara period (538-794). Our findings indicate that the tax pressure increased sharply during the Asuka-Nara period, which corresponds to the introduction a new Chinese-style political system based on economic and religious institutions legitimized by Buddhism. It appears nevertheless that the new social order was well accepted. The willingness to accept a higher tax pressure could be explained by the role played by Buddhism as pacification device reducing the exposure of commoners to warfare-related risks, while improving social stability, property rights, and contract enforcement. In the meantime, the introduction of the new Chinese-style institutional framework resulted in a decline in the nutritional status of the rural population in the core Kinai region and in surrounding provinces."

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Pascal Bassino & Masanori Takashima, 2014. "Paying the price for spiritual enlightenment: tax pressure and living standards in Kofun and Asuka-Nara, Japan (c.300-794 AD)," Working Papers 14001, Economic History Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehs:wpaper:14001
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    political centralization; urbanisation; income tax; corvée labour; nutrition; Buddhism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East
    • N45 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Asia including Middle East
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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