This book takes a long-term perspective to examine the evolution of Chinese governance and its lasting impact on Chinese economic development. Through its broad exploration of the style, strength, and effectiveness of Chinese governance through the years, it touches on a universal relationship...

War, finance, and mercantilism -- Great divergence, fiscal-military state and economic policy -- From trading cities to territorial states -- The "military revolution" -- The rise of the fiscal state -- Different paths to public finance and fiscal systems -- European states and the crisis of the...

Contents: 1. Introduction -- 2. Debate and comment about the needham puzzle over the past half-century -- 3. The behavior of the peasants and their households: the logical starting point for the study of the puzzle in Chinese economic history -- 4. The petty peasant economy and the formation of...