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The Making of Bad Gentry: The Abolition of Keju, Local Governance, and Anti-Elite Protests, 1902–1911

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  • Hao, Yu
  • Liu, Zhengcheng
  • Weng, Xi
  • Zhou, Li-an

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of the abolition of the civil service exam on local governance in early twentieth-century China. Before the abolition, local elites collected surtaxes that financed local public goods, but they were supervised by the state and could lose candidacy for higher status if they engaged in corrupt behavior. This prospect of upward mobility (POUM) gave them incentives to behave well, which the abolition of the exam removed. Using anti-elite protests as a proxy for the deterioration of local governance, we find that prefectures with a higher POUM experienced more incidents of anti-elite protests after the abolition.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao, Yu & Liu, Zhengcheng & Weng, Xi & Zhou, Li-an, 2022. "The Making of Bad Gentry: The Abolition of Keju, Local Governance, and Anti-Elite Protests, 1902–1911," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 82(3), pages 625-661, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:82:y:2022:i:3:p:625-661_1
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    Cited by:

    1. Shaoda Wang & Boxiao Zhang, 2023. "Buddha's grace illuminates all: Temple destruction, school construction and modernization in 20th century China," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(360), pages 1335-1361, October.

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