This study explores the role of imperial governments in affecting mortality levels and, particularly, fertility behaviors. It attempts to demonstrate that one element in Malthus' population theory, preventive checks, did exist in pre-modern China. Economic rationalism motivated peasants to adopt certain measures under varied conditions which raises doubts about the uniqueness of European societies in this aspect. Due mainly to government relief and welfare efforts, incentives to preventive checks gradually declined, which may be viewed as one more case of the influence of non-economic factors on the course of economic development.
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