Abstract
Why have some small culture areas formed larger ones, while those large culture areas eventually disintegrated? Why are unions formed by culturally heterogeneous economies sometimes less stable and efficient than those formed by culturally homogeneous economies with different political systems? In this chapter, a model of spatial efficiency (optimality) of cultures is constructed to explain the integration and break up of culture areas. On the basis of this model, four propositions relating to the equilibrium location of and the optimal size of cultures are derived, and their political economy implications to the interactions between cultures differing in size are illustrated. The analytic narratives indicate that the increasing complexity of managing a culture area that either grows beyond a certain size or has locational disadvantages is the major source of cultural inefficiencies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
Here, Han is written with a different Chinese character from that used for the like-sounding “Han” dynasty and “Han” people of China.
- 2.
In what follows, all data on and information about the three kingdoms of Paekche, Shilla, and Koguryo are based on http://www.asianinfo.org/aisaninfo/korea/history/three_kingdoms.htm.
- 3.
- 4.
Note that from 1897 to 1910 the Chosen dynasty was renamed Taehan (great Korea).
- 5.
Cited from Hwang (1993, p. 1).
- 6.
According to the Zhongfa system, the eldest son born of the highest ranking wife of a member of the royal household or nobility was called the “major branch” and inherited the right of succession to his father’s throne or noble title. Other son(s) was (were) known as “minor branch(s).”
- 7.
Historically, the Han dynasty is divided into two periods: the Western Han had its capital in Chang’an in the west; while the Eastern Han had its capital in Luoyang in the east.
- 8.
The major events that occurred in the Chinese society during the twentieth century are listed below in a chronological order: 1912, China’s last dynasty, the Qing, was replaced by the Republic of China (ROC); 1937, Japan invaded China and the War of Resistance Against Japan (WRAJ) began; 1945, Japan surrendered unconditionally and, thereafter, the Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists broke out; 1949, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded.
- 9.
Since the culture area defined here is spatially uniform, the use of all these approaches will not affect the consistency of our analysis.
- 10.
For example, based on the data from 93 countries, Guo (1996, pp. 85–86) finds that a new metal will appear for every increment of about 13,256 square kilometers of land area.
- 11.
Similar arguments are made by Alesina and Spolarore (1997, p. 1029) for an independent state.
- 12.
Obviously, there exists an adverse correlation between α and β. For example, if α is maximized, then β is minimized, and vice versa.
- 13.
- 14.
More detailed evidence can be found in chosen lichao shilu (Records of the Chosen Yi Dynasty), vol. 1.
- 15.
This can be witnessed by the Yi’s introduction of Confucian social norms and moral values which were to govern Korea for the next five centuries. The most productive period of the Yi dynasty came under its fourth king, Sejong (reign 1418–1450), who was noted for his mastery of Confucian learning.
- 16.
Evidence from the royal tombs indicates that royal personages were buried with articles of value, presumably for use in the afterlife. Perhaps for the same reason, hundreds of commoners, who may have been slaves, were buried alive with the royal corpse.
- 17.
The period from AD 907 to 960 is known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (wudai shiguo).
- 18.
Since the Qin and the Sui dynasties are two special cases, they are excluded from Fig. 3.6.
- 19.
- 20.
- 21.
See Beijing Youth, 2 December 2002 (available at http://www.sina.com.cn).
References
Alesina A, Spolaore E (1997) On the number and size of nations. Q J Econ 112:1027–1056
Bolton P, Roland G (1997) The breakup of nations: a political economy analysis. Q J Econ 112:1057–1089
Bolton P, Spolaore E (1996) Economic theories of integration and break-up of nations. Eur Econ Rev 81:697–705
Dai Y, Gong S (eds) (2000) A History of China (zhongguo tongshi), a four-volume edition. Haiyan Press, Zhengzhou (in Chinese)
Dodsworth J, Mihaljek D (1997) Hong Kong, China: Growth, structural change, and economic stability during the transition. International Monetary Fund Occasional Paper No. 152. IMF, Washington, DC
Feng L (1993) On the ‘wars’ over the purchase of farm and subsidiary products. Chinese Econ Stud 26(5):87–94
Friedman D (1977) A theory of the size and shape of nations. J Polit Econ 85(1):59–77
Goodman DSG (1994) The politics of regionalism: economic development conflicts and negotiation. In: Goodman DSG, Segal G (eds) China deconstructs: politics, trade, and regionalism. Routledge, London, pp 1–20
Gottmann J (1973) The significance of territory. University of Virginia Press, Charlottesville
Guo R (1993) Economic analysis of border-regions: theory and practice of China (in Chinese). China Ocean Press, Beijing
Guo R (1996) Border-regional economics. Springer, Berlin
Hwang E-G (1993) The Korean economies: a comparison of north and south. Clarendon Press, Oxford
Li Z (1993) In-depth exploration of the question of regional blockades. Chinese Econ Stud 26(5):23–36
Shen L, Dai Y (1990) Chinese federal economy: mechanisms, impacts, and sources (in Chinese). Jingji Yanjiu (Econ Res J) 3:1–13
State Council (1981) Regulations of the P. R. China concerning the resolutions of the disputes on borders of the administrative divisions. State Council, Beijing
Sun Z (1993) Causes of trade wars over farm products, their effects, and suggested solutions. Chinese Econ Stud 26(5):95–104
Zhang H (1990) Importance of adjusting the transprovincial borders in China (in Chinese). J East China Normal Univ 1:1–10
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Guo, R. (2009). Spatial Optimality of Cultures. In: Intercultural Economic Analysis. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0849-0_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0849-0_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-0848-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-0849-0
eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsEconomics and Finance (R0)