Was Qianlong's Response to Lord Macartney's Request to Open China

question 109

Essay

Was Qianlong's response to Lord Macartney's request to open China to British trade realistic or unrealistic? Was the emperor's negative response a logical outgrowth of China's history? Why and/or why not?

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Definitions:

Producer Surplus

The discrepancy between the price at which producers are prepared to sell a product and the actual price they obtain.

Consumer Surplus

A mismatch between the price consumers feel prepared to pay for a good or service, and the actual outlay.

Competitive Price

A price that is in line with or slightly below the market average, aiming to attract customers in a competitive environment.

Total Surplus

is the sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus, representing the overall economic benefit to society from trade or market activity.