The Export Trade Of Raw Silk In Moderan Jiangsu And Its Impact On Rural Economy (1895-1936)

Taking the raw silk export trade in modern Jiangsu as the study theme and object, combing the classic works of some Marxist writers and the theories of international trade, industrial economy, development economy in western economics, the author analyzes the volume and structure of raw silk export in modern Jiangsu, depicts and explains the reasons, characteristics of the raw silk export trade in modern Jiangsu and its impact on the industrial structure, hoping to offer some helpful historical references and political suggestions for the rural industrial restructuring of Jiangsu in the background of reform and opening-up.By analyzing the changes of demand quantity and pattern in modern international raw silk market, the paper holds the view that the international soaring demand for raw silk account for the rapid development of silkworm industry in modern Jiangsu. After the boom of the silk textile industry, Europe and America were in increasing demand for raw silk. From the prospective of quantity, the America and France's demands for raw silk grew 10 times between 1840 and 1920, and looking from the structure, demand for hand-filature silk is decreasing, meanwhile demand for machine-filature silk is growing remarkably.The paper lays emphases on the trade volume of raw silk export and its fluctuations, the organizational forms of export trade. The calculation shows that in 1880 the annual export volume and value of raw silk are 10.8 thousand dan and 3028 thousand tales respectively, and 30 years later the figures are 35.1 thousand dan and 19338 thousand tales respectively, which means that the annual export volume and value of raw silk grew trebly and 6 times respectively. Silk and silk textiles were the main export goods in modern Jiangsu.The paper believes that the export trade of raw silk has an impact on the modern economy of Jiangsu in the following ways:First, promoting the development of silkworm industry in Jiangsu. By 1929, the gross pod quantity ranked third all over China. Second, stimulating the specialty division in the silkworm industry, various production chains in the industry weremarching increasingly into specialty and socialization. Third, export trade of raw silk created relatively high industrial value. Fourth, export trade of raw silk boosted the industrial restructuring in Jiangsu.All in all, the soaring growth of raw silk export blossomed the silkworm industry into the pillar industry in the economic development of modern Jiangsu, leading the industrial pattern of Jiangsu towards modernization through the effect of industrial interaction. Both from the perspective of national economy and people's livelihood, silkworm industry was one of the most important industries in modern Jiangsu. Under the then historical condition, silkworm industry was one of the indispensable factors to economic development.