State Formation, Property Relations, & the Development of the Tokugawa Economy (1600-1868)

Before the late 1960s, Japanese historians characterised the early modern Japanese economy in what are typical feudal terms. Considered backward and stagnant, it was argued that the economy eventually collapsed under the weight of its own internal limitations.

This narrative has given way in the past two decades to a new interpretation in which Japan's pre-industrial economy is portrayed as one of substantive growth and qualitative change, setting the stage for modern development during the Meiji era.

State Formation, Property Relations, & the Development of the Tokugawa Economy (1600-1868) by Grace Kwon offers a comprehensive analysis of these changes. The book provides valuable insights into how state formation and property relations influenced the Tokugawa economy, contributing to Japan's transition to modern economic practices.