Book cover of Paths Toward the Modern Fiscal State: England, Japan, and China

Book description

The rise of modern public finance revolutionized political economy. As governments learned to invest tax revenue in the long-term financial resources of the market, they vastly increased their administrative power and gained the ability to use fiscal, monetary, and financial policy to manage their economies. But why did the modern…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Paths Toward the Modern Fiscal State as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book traces the paths of fiscal development in England, Japan, and China, focusing on a critical era of institutional reform after, respectively, the English Civil Wars, the Meiji Restoration, and the Taiping Rebellion.

He brilliantly shows how these events led to urgent calls for state revenue, but how responses differed. England and Japan developed tools of modern public finance and equipped themselves to become world powers. China failed and only caught up much later.

This book is a wonderful example of historical comparative research in fiscal state formation, offering deep insights into the rise of the modern world system. 

From Ewout's list on the global rise of fiscal states.

If you love Paths Toward the Modern Fiscal State...

Ad

Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Want books like Paths Toward the Modern Fiscal State?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Paths Toward the Modern Fiscal State.

Browse books like Paths Toward the Modern Fiscal State

Book cover of The Rise of Fiscal States: A Global History, 1500-1914
Book cover of Global Taxation: How Modern Taxes Conquered the World
Book cover of Fiscal Regimes and the Political Economy of Premodern States

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,211

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like Paths Toward the Modern Fiscal State, you might also like...

Old Man Country by Thomas R. Cole,

Book cover of Old Man Country

This book follows the journey of a writer in search of wisdom as he narrates encounters with 12 distinguished American men over 80, including Paul Volcker, the former head of the Federal Reserve, and Denton Cooley, the world’s most famous heart surgeon.

In these and other intimate conversations, the book…

Lane and the Inventor by Amy Q. Barker,

Book cover of Lane and the Inventor

A grumpy-sunshine, slow-burn, sweet-and-steamy romance set in wild and beautiful small-town Colorado. Lane Gravers is a wanderer, adventurer, yoga instructor, and social butterfly when she meets reserved, quiet, pensive Logan Hickory, a loner inventor with a painful past.

Dive into this small-town, steamy romance between two opposites who find love…

5 book lists we think you will like!