Selective Technology Importation and the Convergence in the Late Qing Dynasty: Evidence from Wired Telegraph  

作　　者：Jiao Yinyi Cai Meng 

机构地区：[1]Center for Economic Research,Shandong University,Jinan,China [2]School of History and Culture,Shandong Normal University,Jinan,China

出　　处：《China Economist》2024年第5期117-136,共20页中国经济学人（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the General Project of the National Social Science Fund of China(Grant No.NSSFC)“Research on the Changes of Modern East Asian Order”(Grant No.18BSS028).

摘　　要：Using the adoption and expansion of wired telegraph in China during the late 19^(th) century,this paper investigates the effect of cost reductions for knowledge exchange on China’s industrial growth before the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression(1931-1945),thus testing Baldwin’s theory of“the Great Convergence”in which developing countries are empowered by information and communication technologies.Based on panel data of 1858-1937,we found that wired telegraph access had a significantly positive effect,as well as a long-term growth effect,on the entry of industrial enterprises.Our mechanism analysis indicates that wired telegraph access accelerated early-stage industrialization in localities by encouraging market integration,human capital accumulation,and auxiliary commercial organizations.Only a few countries firmly asserted their telegraph sovereignty and set up their own workforce educational system during telegraph adoption.This explains why the Great Convergence arising from technology importation only occurred in a small number of countries.Our findings contribute to understanding the source of China’s modern industrial progress,as well as why global inequities remain.

关 键 词：wired telegraph entry of industrial enterprises the Great Convergence human capital 

分 类 号：K252[历史地理—历史学] F429[历史地理—中国史]