The Economic Consequences of Political Hierarchy: Evidence from Regime Changes in China, 1000-2000 C.E.
利用中国1000-2000年间政权更替带来的省级首府地位变化，发现政治等级变动通过公共就业和交通基础设施影响区域人口与城市化，且政治优势一旦失去经济优势不会持续。
Abstract We study how political hierarchy shapes regional development in China, using variations driven by regime changes during the 1000–2000 period. We find that changes in the status of the provincial capital led to the rise and decline of different prefectures as measured by population and urbanization. Two other novel findings stand out: (1) the economic advantages of the provincial capitals did not persist if they lost their political status, and (2) political hierarchy shaped economic development not only through public employment but also through the development of important infrastructure, such as transportation networks. Our findings highlight the importance of politics in determining the locations of economic activities.