Chinese National Income, ca. 1661–1933

TY - JOUR

T1 - Chinese National Income, ca. 1661–1933

AU - XU, Yi

AU - Shi, Zhihong

AU - van Leeuwen, Bas

AU - Ni, Yuping

AU - Zhang, Zipeng

AU - Ma, Ye

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - In recent decades, national income has become increasingly important as a measure of a nation’s economic health. In this study, we used a wide array of primary and secondary sources to arrive at values of the Chinese per capita gross domestic product (GDP) during the period of 1661–1933. We found a persistent decline in the per capita GDP between the 17th and 19th centuries, followed by a period of stagnation. This pattern, which shows up in many Asian countries, with the exception of Japan, provides a basis for improving our understanding of the patterns of global economic convergence and divergence.

AB - In recent decades, national income has become increasingly important as a measure of a nation’s economic health. In this study, we used a wide array of primary and secondary sources to arrive at values of the Chinese per capita gross domestic product (GDP) during the period of 1661–1933. We found a persistent decline in the per capita GDP between the 17th and 19th centuries, followed by a period of stagnation. This pattern, which shows up in many Asian countries, with the exception of Japan, provides a basis for improving our understanding of the patterns of global economic convergence and divergence.

KW - GDP

KW - China

KW - Growth

KW - industry

KW - services

KW - agriculture

KW - Qing dynasty

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-8992

VL - 57

SP - 368

JO - Asia-Pacific Economic History Review

JF - Asia-Pacific Economic History Review

IS - 3

ER -