On the Origins of Modern East Asia: Knowledge and the Economic Transformation of Japan and China in the Late 19th Century

Authors

Debin Ma, Fudan University
Jared Rubin, Chapman UniversityFollow
Weiwen Yin, University of Macau

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-9-2026

Abstract

This paper revisits the old thesis of the contrasting paths of modernization between Japan and China. It develops a new analytical framework regarding the role of knowledge acquisition (propositional vs. prescriptive) and political centralization as the key drivers behind these contrasting paths. Our model and historical data highlight how the introduction of these elements contributed to Meiji Japan’s decisive turn towards the West and Qing China’s lethargic response to Western imperialism. Our analytical framework, developed from a comparative historical narrative and quantitative data, sheds new light on the importance of knowledge acquisition in enabling developing countries to reach the world’s economic frontier.

Comments

ESI Working Paper 26-04

Recommended Citation

Ma, D., Rubin, J., & Yin, W. (2026). On the origins of modern East Asia: Knowledge and the economic transformation of Japan and China in the late 19th century. ESI Working Paper 26-04. https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/435/