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Anthropometric Trends In Southern China, 1830–1864

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  • Joerg Baten
  • Sandew Hira

Abstract

Anthropometric indicators can shed light on the ‘Great Divergence’ debate on the timing of the welfare development in China and Europe. We mobilise two new datasets of some 13,000 Southern Chinese contract migrants who were sent to Suriname and Indonesia, and thus supplement the limited existing evidence on early to mid‐nineteenth century China. The Southern Chinese were about as tall as Southern Europeans during the early and mid‐nineteenth century, but notably shorter than Northwestern Europeans. Height development was stagnant or slightly downward over the period studied, which fits into the pattern of real wage developments at that time.

Suggested Citation

  • Joerg Baten & Sandew Hira, 2008. "Anthropometric Trends In Southern China, 1830–1864," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 48(3), pages 209-226, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ozechr:v:48:y:2008:i:3:p:209-226
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8446.2008.00238.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sunyoung Pak & Daniel Schwekendiek & Hee Kyoung Kim, 2011. "Height and living standards in North Korea, 1930s–1980s," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 64(s1), pages 142-158, February.
    2. Stephen Morgan & Martin Shanahan, 2010. "The Supply Of Economic History In Australasia: The Australian Economic History Review At 50," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 50(3), pages 217-239, November.
    3. Ward, W. Peter, 2013. "Stature, migration and human welfare in South China, 1850–1930," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 488-501.

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