本书通过对爱泼斯坦《自由与增长》的分析指出,经济史学与制度经济学领域中正在出现一个新的研究变量与分析视角——国家主权制度及其变迁。爱泼斯坦在该书中对过于依赖新古典模型与产权制度的新制度经济学提出了批评,并正确地指出国家主权制度变迁才是产业革命爆发的决定性原因。尽管欧洲中心的视角与公共经济学理论的缺乏导致爱泼斯坦的观点稍显偏激,但对国家主权作用的强调仍然促进了公共经济学与制度经济学的发展。 Through the analysis of Epstein’s “Freedom and Growth”, this book points out that a new research variable and analysis perspective are emerging in the fields of economic historiography and institutional economics - the state sovereignty system and its changes. In the book, Epstein criticizes the new institutional economics that relies too heavily on neoclassical models and property rights and correctly states that the changes in state sovereignty are the decisive causes of the industrial revolution. Although Epstein’s point of view is slightly extreme from the perspective of European center and the lack of public economic theory, the emphasis on the role of national sovereignty still promotes the development of public economics and institutional economics.