Inequality in global living standards is a major challenge facing humanity in the new millennium.

Real output per capita in Western Europe and North America is more than ten times that of many less developed countries. Differences are also substantial with respect to educational attainment, average length of life, and the general health of the population.

The main concern of this book is to assess when the gap between the East and the West emerged and to not only take economic perspectives into consideration but social and demographic ones as well. The established view, stemming from the classical economists and still influential, is that the gap originated far back in history, perhaps thousands of years ago. This view has lately been challenged both by economists and demographers studying Asian history, stimulating an intense debate on the long-term economic development of Europe and Asia (especially China). Many of the arguments in this debate, however, have been based on fragmentary evidence collected from a few areas of a handful of countries. This book contributes to this debate by presenting a collection of historical analyses aiming to deepen and refine our knowledge of this important issue. The contributions cover major Asian and European countries and regions presenting new evidence and interpretations not only on income, health, and education but also on the ability to overcome short-term economic stress. In this way, we are able to provide a more substantial empirical foundation for debate on when the gap in living standards between the East and the West emerged.

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