Developments
and Regulation of Private Industry in Han Dynasty
A) Overview:
1) Private Enterprises Making Money
2) Factors Helping Trade
3) Poor Economic Policies
4) Reasons for Policies
5) Consequences
6) Lessons and Conclusions
B) Private Enterprises Making Money
1) Iron Smelting
2) Domestic and Foreign Trade
3) Money Lending
C) Factors Helping Trade
1) Inherited Road System
2) No Tariffs
D) Poor Economic Policies
1) Merchants forbidden to wear silk or ride in carriages
2) Merchants forbidden to own land
3) Increases in taxes with punitive intent
4) Merchants, as well as their children and grandchildren were forbidden to work for the government
5) Standardization of Prices
6) Awards given for reporting violators of property tax laws
E) Reasons for Policies
1) Inherited Qin policies that favor the soldier and the laborer to the merchant
2) Attempts for unity throughout nation
3) Incorrect conclusions about food shortages
F) Consequences
1) Lack of economy, combined with wars and extravagance of royal life leads to empty government reserves.
2) Inflation
3) Commercial Sector survives through Usury
G) Lessons Learned and Conclusion
1) Government Policy that encourages, while regulating and taxing for revenue creates a stronger economy then discouragement of free market activities.