Fenjiashu: Economic development in the Chinese countryside based on household division inventories, ca. 1750–1910

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fenjiashu: Economic development in the Chinese countryside based on household division inventories, ca. 1750–1910

AU - Wang, Meimei

AU - van Leeuwen, Bas

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Despite the existence of a rich literature on Chinese partial household division, there is still limited evidence of its effect on land and capital accumulation and well-being. In this study, contrary to the dominant view, we find that household property size peaked around 1800s–1830s, suggesting that equal-share system did not necessarily lead to land fragmentation. We find evidence that this rise in farm sizes is related to the opposing forces of increased well-being and increased inequality.

AB - Despite the existence of a rich literature on Chinese partial household division, there is still limited evidence of its effect on land and capital accumulation and well-being. In this study, contrary to the dominant view, we find that household property size peaked around 1800s–1830s, suggesting that equal-share system did not necessarily lead to land fragmentation. We find evidence that this rise in farm sizes is related to the opposing forces of increased well-being and increased inequality.

KW - China

KW - Qing dynasty

KW - probates

KW - fenjia

KW - household

KW - farmland

KW - economic growth

KW - consumption

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-8992

VL - 61

SP - 252

EP - 272

JO - Australian Economic History Review

JF - Australian Economic History Review

IS - 3

ER -