Econ Papers Daily / 期刊论文
产权、财政能力与社会能力：太平天国的持久影响
Property rights, fiscal capacity, and social capacity: The lasting impact of the Taiping Rebellion
摘要
We examine the long-term regional development effects of the Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864), one of the deadliest civil wars in human history and a critical juncture in China’s path toward modernity. Our analysis shows that some areas under the control of the Taiping regime experienced important institutional changes, including stronger land property rights, greater local fiscal capacity, and enhanced social capacity. We find that these areas exhibit enduring development outcomes, reflected in higher economic activity, larger fiscal revenues, stronger civic norms, and lower mortality during the Great Famine (1959–1961). The results suggest that violent conflicts have left lasting imprints on development by shaping local institutions in ways that influenced the evolution of property rights, fiscal capacity, and social cohesion, factors that could account for China’s enduring regional disparities.
中文摘要
我们考察了太平天国运动（1850-1864年）——人类历史上最致命的内战之一，也是中国迈向现代化进程中的关键转折点——对区域长期发展的影响。分析显示，太平天国政权控制下的某些地区经历了重要的制度变迁，包括土地产权强化、地方财政能力增强以及社会能力提升。我们发现，这些地区展现出持久的发展成果，体现在经济活动水平更高、财政收入更充裕、公民规范更强，以及在大饥荒（1959-1961年）期间死亡率更低。研究结果表明，暴力冲突通过塑造地方制度，在产权演变、财政能力和社会凝聚力方面留下深远影响，这些因素或可解释中国持续存在的区域差异。