唐朝均田制度实施成本剖析

Cost Analysis on Implementation of Land Equalization System in Tang Dynasty

唐初政府实行均田制缘于维持政权合法性、获取财政收入以及争夺劳动力的需要。均田制作为一种制度安排,在唐前期相对于其他可能的土地制度来讲是先进的,产生了较好的经济效益和社会效益。唐中叶后政府放弃对土地资源配置这一传统职能,不仅是社会、政治、经济发展的必然,更是唐政府在对收益与成本权衡的最终抉择。当均田制度下的交易费用逐渐增大而制度收益却逐渐减少且最终成本大于收益时,放弃旧制度无疑是一种明智的选择。

In order to maintain political legitimacy,and gain financial income and labor force,the Tang government implemented Land Equalization system in the early Tang Dynasty.Compared with other possible land systems,Land Equalization system,a kind of institutional arrangement,was advanced in early Tang Dynasty and produced better economic and social benefits.After the middle Tang Dynasty,the abandonment of government traditional function for land resources allocation was not only the inevitable result of the social,political,and economic development,but also the final decision of the government to balance the cost and interests.When Land Equalization system transaction costs increased,revenues of the old system reduced gradually,and eventually the cost of the old system exceeded its income,abandoning the old one was definitely a wise choice.