...Peng Peng Imperial China’s bureaucracy is often seen as a meritocracy, shaping views on state development. This paper challenges that idea, arguing the meritocratic model is too simplistic. I define meritocracy as formal exams, assessments of administrative and technical skills, and equal...

... of Emerald Publishing Limited must be obtained for commercial re-use. Intendants France bureaucracy state capacity state building In the study of political development, fiscal capacity plays a crucial role in understanding the centralization of state authority. For it proxies the state’s...