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China, Europe and the great Divergence: A Study in Historical Natonal Accounting, 980-1850

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  • Broadberry, Stephen
  • Guan, Hanhui
  • Li, David

Abstract

Chinese GDP per capita fluctuated at a high level during the Northern Song and Ming dynasties before trending downwards during the Qing dynasty. China led the world in living standards during the Northern Song dynasty, but had fallen behind Italy by 1300. At this stage, it is possible that parts of China were still on a par with the richest parts of Europe, but by 1750 the gap was too large to be bridged by regional variation within China and the Great Divergence had already begun before the Industrial Revolution

Suggested Citation

  • Broadberry, Stephen & Guan, Hanhui & Li, David, 2017. "China, Europe and the great Divergence: A Study in Historical Natonal Accounting, 980-1850," CEPR Discussion Papers 11972, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:11972
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E10 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - General
    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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