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Size and structure of disaster relief when state capacity is limited: China’s 1823 flood

Author

Listed:
  • Ni Yuping

    (History Department, Tsinghua University)

  • Martin Uebele

    (Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen)

Abstract

This paper presents new archival evidence about amount and structure of central government disaster relief during China’s devastating flood of 1823. While the flood affected 20 percent of ChinaÕs counties, spending per capita was sizable and distributed between provinces depending on the intensity of flooding. However, because of its small relative size and thus limited state capacity the Chinese government had to spend about half of annual tax income on relief during 1823. We thus conclude that short-term disaster relief was prioritized by the Qing administration over long-term investments, which may have contributed to its secular economic stagnation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ni Yuping & Martin Uebele, 2015. "Size and structure of disaster relief when state capacity is limited: China’s 1823 flood," Working Papers 0083, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    • Handle: RePEc:hes:wpaper:0083
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    Daoguang Depression; disaster relief; China; 19th century; state capacity;
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