Public Goods Provision in the Early Modern Economy : Comparative Perspectives From Japan, China, and Europe

A free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press’s Open Access publishing program. Visit [www.luminosoa.org](http://www.luminosoa.org) to learn more.Scholarly discussions on economic development in history, specifically those linked to industrialization or modern economic growth, have paid great attention to the formation and development of the market economy as a set of institutions able to augment people’s welfare. The role of specific nonmarket practices for promoting the economic development and welfare has been a distinct concern, typically involving discussion of the state’s economic policies. How have societies tackled those issues that the market did not? To what extent did those solutions reflect the structure of an economy? __Public Goods Provision in the Early Modern Economy__explores these questions by investigating efforts made for the provision of "public goods" in early modern economies from the perspective of Japanese socioeconomic history during Tokugawa era (1603–1868), and by comparing those cases with others from Europe and China’s economic history. The contributors focus on three areas of inquiry—early modern era welfare policies for the poor, infrastructure, and forest management—to provide both a unique perspective on Japanese public finance at local levels and a vantage point outside of Europe to encourage a more global view of early modern political economies that shaped subsequent modern transformations. A free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press’s Open Access publishing program. Visit (http://www.luminosoa.org) www.luminosoa.org to learn more. Scholarly discussions on economic development in history, specifically those linked to industrialization or modern economic growth, have paid great attention to the formation and development of the market economy as a set of institutions able to augment people’s welfare. The role of specific nonmarket practices for promoting the economic development and welfare has been a distinct concern, typically involving discussion of the state’s economic policies. How have societies tackled those issues that the market did not? To what extent did those solutions reflect the structure of an economy? Public Goods Provision in the Early Modern Economy explores these questions by investigating efforts made for the provision of "public goods" in early modern economies from the perspective of Japanese socioeconomic history during Tokugawa era (1603–1868), and by comparing those cases with others from Europe and China’s economic history. The contributors focus on three areas of inquiry—early modern era welfare policies for the poor, infrastructure, and forest management—to provide both a unique perspective on Japanese public finance at local levels and a vantage point outside of Europe to encourage a more global view of early modern political economies that shaped subsequent modern transformations. At Publication Date, A Free Ebook Version Of This Title Will Be Available Through Luminos, University Of California Press’s Open Access Publishing Program. Visit Www.luminosoa.org To Learn More. Scholarly Discussions On Economic Development In History, Specifically Those Linked To Industrialization Or Modern Economic Growth, Have Paid Great Attention To The Formation And Development Of The Market Economy As A Set Of Institutions Able To Augment People’s Welfare. The Role Of Specific Nonmarket Practices For Promoting The Economic Development And Welfare Has Been A Distinct Concern, Typically Involving Discussion Of The State’s Economic Policies. How Have Societies Tackled Those Issues That The Market Did Not? To What Extent Did Those Solutions Reflect The Structure Of An Economy? Public Goods Provision In The Early Modern Economy Explores These Questions By Investigating Efforts Made For The Provision Of Public Goods In Early Modern Economies From The Perspective Of Japanese Socioeconomic History During Tokugawa Era (1603–1868), And By Comparing Those Cases With Others From Europe And China’s Economic History. The Contributors Focus On Three Areas Of Inquiry—early Modern Era Welfare Policies For The Poor, Infrastructure, And Forest Management—to Provide Both A Unique Perspective On Japanese Public Finance At Local Levels And A Vantage Point Outside Of Europe To Encourage A More Global View Of Early Modern Political Economies That Shaped Subsequent Modern Transformations. Cover 1 Half title 4 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Contents 8 Illustrations 12 Preface 14 1 Toward the Public Goods Provision in Early Modern Economy 18 Part I. Public Finance and Regional Society in Early Modern Japan 28 2 From “Feudal” Lords to Local Notables 34 3 Samurai and Peasants in the Civil Administration of Early Modern Japan 55 4 Outsourcing the Lord’s Finance 74 Part II. Coping with Poverty and Famine 90 5 Sanctions, Targetism, and Village Autonomy 95 6 Coping with Risk in the Seventeenth Century 117 7 Coping with Poverty in Rural Brandenburg 135 8 Coping with Poverty and Famine 147 Part III. Building Infrastructure 162 9 The Development of Civil Engineering Projects and Village Communities in 17th- to 19th-Century Japan 167 10 Rulers and Ruled in Flood Protection during the Eighteenth Century 189 11 Infrastructure Maintenance in the Jifu Region, Beijing Metropolitan Region during the Eighteenth Century 219 12 Provided for Public Welfare 233 Part IV. Managing the Forest 250 13 Lords’ Forestry for People’s Basic Needs 255 14 The Role of Villagers in Domain and State Forest Management 272 15 Forests as Commons in Early Modern China 293 16 Public Goods and Economy in the Early Modern Era-New Perspectives on Modern Economies and Contemporary Environmental Concerns 309 Contributors 332 Index 336 Historically, for sustaining and reproducing their economic lives, people have obtained goods and services through various ways. How did people tackle issues that the market did not handle well? This volume compares early modern efforts to provide ?public goods??defined in contraposition to market-mediated goods and goods provided through personal relations, such as kinship ties. We examine poverty and famine relief, infrastructure building, and forestry management in East Asia and Europe, using Japan?s Tokugawa era (1603?1868) as a benchmark from which consider the cases in Prussia, China, and England. Taking advantage of rich scholarship on the role of autonomous village and regional society in Japan?s early modern history, the volume highlights the diverse approaches to providing public goods across societies, relativizing the discussion on the formation of fiscal state drawn from the experience in ?advanced? Western Europe, and it constructs the beginnings of an early modern basis for forecasting the diversity in public-goods provision future into the modern and contemporary periods. "This volume compares early modern efforts to provide "public goods" defined as non-market mediated goods not limited to personal relations such as kinship. We examine poverty and famine relief, infrastructure, and forestry in East Asia and Europe, using Japan's Tokugawa era (1603-1868) as a benchmark from which to consider public goods provision in Prussia, China, and England. Japan is similar in size to a European country and linked to China through shared beliefs and practices. Such an approach allows us to mediate comparisons made directly between China and Europe and to avoid taking England as the norm for an 'advanced' society"--Provided by publisher