China Great Divergence GDP Per Capita Replication Data

A replication kit for the 2021 study by Broadberry, Guan, and Li, which restates the timing of the Great Divergence between China and Europe. The analysis uses archival data to compare GDP per capita in the leading regions of China and Europe from before the 18th century through the Qing dynasty. The principal finding is that the divergence began around 1700.

Use Cases

• Replicate the GDP per capita time series analysis for leading Chinese and European regions as presented in the 2021 paper.
• Test alternative chronologies of economic divergence, such as Solar's proposed 'Great Crossing', using the provided archival data.
• Analyze long-term economic trends in China during the Qing dynasty using the dataset's historical GDP estimates.

Strengths

• Dataset is directly associated with a peer-reviewed 2021 publication in economic history.
• Data is designed to replicate and verify the study's principal findings on the timing of the Great Divergence.
• The underlying analysis corrects for shortcomings in prior government spending data using empirical data rather than assumptions.

Limitations

• The specific data structure, column names, and sample size are not described in the input.
• The dataset's scope is focused on a specific academic debate, limiting its generalizability to other research questions.
• The raw description indicates the data refutes a novel chronology, suggesting it may not support all alternative historical economic models.

Provenance

Source

Stephen Broadberry

Collection Method

Archival data compilation for academic replication.

Time Range

Covers periods before the 18th century through the Qing dynasty, with a focus on the divergence around 1700.

Freshness

null

Geography

Leading regions of China and Europe.