没有比较,就没有鉴别。研究中国经济史,“必须对外国经济史有相当程度的了解,不能就中国论中国”(严中平先生语)。在具体研究工作中,很多同志注意中外比较研究,并取得一些颇有价值的研究成果。然而,由于各种主观和客观条件的限制,要真正做出科学的中外比较,决非易事,必须加倍努力方能解决的问题还有很多。这里不拟广泛讨论,只想结合两个问题着重指出:正是由于对外国史研究不够,了解不够,使中国经济史中一些重大问题的研究没有取得突破性进展,一些结论陷入不能自圆其说的困境。 No comparison, there is no identification. To study China’s economic history, “we must have a fair understanding of the history of foreign economy and can not discuss China on China” (Mr. Yan Zhongping’s remark). In the specific research work, many comrades pay attention to comparative studies at home and abroad and have made some valuable research results. However, due to various subjective and objective conditions, there are still many problems that must be solved if efforts are made to truly make a scientific comparison between China and foreign countries. We do not intend to discuss it extensively here. We only want to combine two issues with emphasis. It is precisely because of insufficient research on foreign history and inadequate understanding that no breakthroughs have been made in the study of some major issues in the history of China’s economy. Some conclusions have fallen into difficulties that can not be justified.