Culture and Institutions in Europe and China, 1000–2000
Interview with Joel Mokyr about his book Two Paths to Prosperity: Culture and Institutions in Europe and China, 1000–2000, co-authored with Avner Greif and Guido Tabellini. Argues that Europe’s divergence from China stems from differing social organisations: European corporations versus Chinese clans for local public goods. The Catholic Church weakened extended families in Europe, fostering non-kin cooperation like universities and guilds. Conversely, China’s imperial bureaucracy leveraged local clans. This cultural shift led to Europe’s embrace of intellectual property rights and a concept of progress, driving technological advancement. The “Industrial Enlightenment” – applying scientific knowledge for material betterment – propelled Europe, contrasting with China’s technological stagnation after 1400.
See also the episode with Guido Tabellini.