Abstract
This chapter develops an interrelated set of hypotheses about the links
between gender relations, family systems and economic development in Eurasia.
First, we briefly discuss a number of ideas from the recent literature about the links
between gender relations and economic development. Second, we suggest a measure
of historic gender relations via the classification and measurement of historical
family systems and offer a set of maps of the institutions concerning marriage,
inheritance and family formation that determine the degree of agency that women
enjoyed at the micro level. Third, we discuss the possible explanation of the genesis
of the Eurasian pattern in family systems and gender relations as a by-product of the
spread of agriculture and the process of ancient state formation that followed the
Neolithic Revolution 10,000 years ago. Finally, we link these patterns in family
systems and female agency to economic growth after 1500. We empirically demonstrate that high female agency and per capita GDP between 1800 and 2000 are
related. The ‘reversal of fortune’ that happened within Eurasia between 1000 and
2000, whereby the ancient centres of state formation and urbanization in the Middle
East, India and China were overtaken by regions at the margin of the continent
(Western Europe, Japan, Korea), can in our view be linked to this spatial pattern in
gender relations and family systems found there.
between gender relations, family systems and economic development in Eurasia.
First, we briefly discuss a number of ideas from the recent literature about the links
between gender relations and economic development. Second, we suggest a measure
of historic gender relations via the classification and measurement of historical
family systems and offer a set of maps of the institutions concerning marriage,
inheritance and family formation that determine the degree of agency that women
enjoyed at the micro level. Third, we discuss the possible explanation of the genesis
of the Eurasian pattern in family systems and gender relations as a by-product of the
spread of agriculture and the process of ancient state formation that followed the
Neolithic Revolution 10,000 years ago. Finally, we link these patterns in family
systems and female agency to economic growth after 1500. We empirically demonstrate that high female agency and per capita GDP between 1800 and 2000 are
related. The ‘reversal of fortune’ that happened within Eurasia between 1000 and
2000, whereby the ancient centres of state formation and urbanization in the Middle
East, India and China were overtaken by regions at the margin of the continent
(Western Europe, Japan, Korea), can in our view be linked to this spatial pattern in
gender relations and family systems found there.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Cliometrics of the Family |
| Editors | C. Diebolt, A. Rijpma, S. Carmichael, S. Dilli, C. Störmer |
| Place of Publication | New York |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Chapter | 7 |
| Pages | 149-172 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-3-319-99480-2 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-3-319-99479-6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Publication series
| Name | Studies in Economic History |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Springer |
| ISSN (Print) | 2364-1797 |
| ISSN (Electronic) | 2364-1800 |
Keywords
- Gender relations
- Economic development
- Eurasia