I opened this book with excitement, for I had long been looking for a book that discusses and brings together the history of both European and Chinese economic thought. How fascinating it is to explore these two long-standing civilizations at the same time. Surprisingly, little comparative work of the kind found in the book under review has been done in the prior literature. I expected this book to shed light on the interactions, similarities, and conflicts between European and Chinese ideas. I am happy to report that it met my expectations.
Of course, to deal with such a broad topic—European and Chinese economic thought—it is essential to have a specific angle. This book chooses to focus on “good governance.” I followed its lead and dove into the rich historical content. It indeed expanded my knowledge.
Part 1 mainly analyzes the history of Chinese economic thought. Its time coverage is wide,...
