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Recently published research that attempts to explain the Great Divergence
mainly focuses on geography, technological progress, and international trade.
However, we do not believe these are its only or even the most basic causes. Instead, we submit that the
'social culture' of a country or a region is the most fundamental reason and incorporates these other causes, thereby
providing a reasonable unified explanation. This paper is mainly based on a very
simple two-sector benchmark model that simulates the economic
characteristics of England and the Yangzi Delta of China during 1400-1850. It explores
aspects of this transition period, and obtains many meaningful results that are
consistent with Unified Growth theory, which is usually based on very complex
models.
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