Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M1836

Great Divergence

Great Divergence
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Before the 19th century, living standards in the West and the East (China/India) were roughly comparable. After the 19th century, the West rose rapidly through industrialization and colonial plunder, while the East declined, creating a huge wealth gap.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Historical cycles: Understand that we are in an era of 'Great Convergence'. The revival of the East is an inevitable process of historical mean reversion.

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Proposed by Pomeranz, it refers to the economic gap that opened between Western Europe (especially Britain) and Eurasian civilizations like China after the 18th century. The mechanism is debated: geography/resources (coal, New World), institutions, technology, or contingent factors led to divergent growth paths.

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_DivergenceZH · Explicit
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