Growth Recurring: Economic Change and Historical Analysis
By E.L. Jones
Summary
Eric Jones' *Growth Recurring: Economic Change in World History* examines the factors behind sustained intensive growth in societies, challenging the Eurocentric focus on the Industrial Revolution. Jones argues that societies inherently strive for growth but face impediments like cultural constraints, political instability, state over-extraction, and path dependency. He identifies Sung China, Tokugawa Japan, and Early Modern Europe as historical examples of sustained growth, attributing Europe’s later Industrial Revolution to fewer disruptions compared to regions affected by Mongol invasions. Jones posits that invasions like the Mongol raids fragmented societies, leading to regressive social institutions and elite resistance to growth. While his analysis of Europe’s gradual growth aligns with later research, his claims about China, Japan, and India have been contested by scholars like Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Yasukichi Yasuba, and Carol Shuie, who highlight overlooked growth and market integration in these regions. Despite its flaws and age, the book remains valuable for its open-ended approach to economic history and its provocative ideas, which continue to inspire historical research.
Conclusion
The review highlights the enduring relevance of Jones' *Growth Recurring* in framing economic history debates, particularly its emphasis on intensive growth tendencies and institutional impediments. While Jones' arguments about European industrialization and the disruptive role of Mongol invasions remain contentious, recent scholarship has validated aspects of his analysis, such as gradual industrialization and state-supported financial growth. However, his claims about China, Japan, and India require revision, as new evidence challenges his assessments of Smithian growth in Mughal India, Tokugawa Japan's living standards, and post-Sung China's economic developments. Despite these critiques, the book's open-ended approach and provocative ideas continue to inspire historical inquiry, offering a foundational perspective for understanding global economic trajectories and institutional barriers to growth.