“加州学派”在中国史研究中独树一帜,其并非单纯地描绘经济现象的差异,而是用大历史的视角和制度经济学的理论,深度探讨东西方经济发展差异背后的成因,并在方法论上挑战了传统的现代化理论和西方中心论。彭慕兰通过对比16到19世纪中国和西方的经济环境,指出无论是人口、技术、市场经济,还是奢侈品的消费,中国都不逊于当时 The California School is unique in the study of Chinese history. It does not simply depict the differences in economic phenomena. Instead, it uses the historical perspective and the theory of institutional economics to deeply probe into the causes behind the differences in economic development between the East and the West. Methodologically challenged the traditional theory of modernization and western centralism. By contrasting the economic conditions in China and the West during the 16th and 19th centuries, Pomeranz pointed out that no matter China is neither China’s population nor technology, market economy, or consumption of luxury goods,