From politics to economics: The investigation of the determinants of local administrative hierarchy in the Tang–Song transition

Abstract This study collects original data to examine the determinants of classification criteria of county hierarchy and its rank variations during the Tang–Song period. The results reveal that the county hierarchy was affected by both economic and political situations, with more emphasis on politics in Tang and economics in Song. By comparing the county ranks through two dynasties, we find that political factors influenced rank elevation mainly near the capital while economic factors emerged as the primary driver of rank increases in southern regions, reflecting the economic center southward shift during the Tang–Song Transition.