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Persistence of cities: Evidence from China

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  • Fan Duan
  • Bulent Unel

Abstract

Using data from the Qing dynasty, we investigate the long‐run impact of early development on today's living standards in China. We use city‐level population density in 1776 as a measure of early economic prosperity, and examine how it is associated with today's development indicators such as the average night light density, GDP per capita, average years of schooling, and trade openness. We find that cities which were more prosperous during the Qing dynasty are now also brighter, richer, more educated, and more open.

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  • Fan Duan & Bulent Unel, 2019. "Persistence of cities: Evidence from China," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(2), pages 663-676, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:23:y:2019:i:2:p:663-676
    DOI: 10.1111/rode.12565
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    Cited by:

    1. Roman Matousek & Chunchao Wang, 2021. "The economic challenges and opportunities of urbanization and migration in China," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(1), pages 3-5, February.

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