Innovation and Economic Development in Eurasia, 500 Bce-Present: The Roots of Divergence

Bas van Leeuwen is an economic historian who graduated in Dutch Law, European and International Law, Economic History, and Russian History at Utrecht University, The Netherlands. He holds a PhD in economics from the International Institute of Social History/Utrecht University. His research focuses on human capital, historical national accounting, market performance, and socioeconomic inequality, from ancient times to the present, in Europe, China, and the former Soviet Union area.

Dmitry Didenko is an economist with a strong interest in multi-disciplinary studies relating to social aspects of human development. His research focuses on human capital formation and efficiency, specifically Russia’s role in global development. He is the author and co-author of numerous academic papers and four books highlighting various issues of knowledge-intensive economy.

Matteo Calabrese is an economic historian who pursued studies in Economics and History at Utrecht and Leiden Universities. He holds a PhD in financial history from the University of Luxembourg, focusing on the history of investment funds. His research interests encompass financial history and long-run economic history, exploring topics like labor history and the determinants of economic growth. His publications include contributions to journals, such as Contemporary European History, Italian Economic Journal, and Historical Methods.

Meimei Wang is an economic historian who holds a PhD in Chinese economic history from Utrecht University and Marxist economics from Renmin University, China. Her research focuses on Chinese rural development, mining history, and the social and economic changes related to the Grand Canal.