Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State

42 Pages Posted: 13 Jun 2022 Last revised: 4 Jun 2023

See all articles by James Kai-Sing Kung

James Kai-Sing Kung

The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Business and Economics

Ömer Özak

Southern Methodist University - Department of Economics; IZA; Global Labor Organization (GLO)

Louis Putterman

Brown University

Shuang SHI

School of Economics, Nankai University

Date Written: June 4, 2020

Abstract

We empirically test a theory of endogenous formation and persistence of mega-states, using China as an example. We constructed a novel dataset to explore the relationship between the diffusion of agriculture, migratory distance, and social complexity-cum-historical presence of Chinese states across 1-degree x 1-degree cells in eastern Asia. We find that cells that adopted agriculture earlier and were close to Erlitou -- the earliest political center in eastern Asia -- remained under Chinese control for longer and continue to be a part of China today. Conversely, early adopters located farther away had enough time to develop into independent states.

Keywords: States, Empires, State Formation, Agriculture, Isolation, Social Complexity, Persistence, Stickiness to China, Erlitou, East Asia

JEL Classification: F50, F59, H70, H79, N90, O10, R10, Z10, Z13

Suggested Citation

Kung, James Kai-Sing and Özak, Ömer and Putterman, Louis and SHI, Shuang, Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State (June 4, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4128095 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4128095

James Kai-Sing Kung

The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Business and Economics ( email )

Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong
China

Ömer Özak (Contact Author)

Southern Methodist University - Department of Economics ( email )

Dallas, TX 75275
United States
+1-214-768-2755 (Phone)
+1-214-768-1821 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://omerozak.com

IZA

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Global Labor Organization (GLO) ( email )

Collogne
Germany

Louis Putterman

Brown University ( email )

Box 1860
Providence, RI 02912
United States

Shuang SHI

School of Economics, Nankai University ( email )

Weijin Road 94
Tianjin, 300071
China

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