The ching dynasty era chinese state took the demands of workers into account. By contrast, european states became eager to firmly ally with merchants to crush popular unrest whenever it emerged. And so as a result, you have the situation where commerce is not totally stigmatized, and repressed. State elites are actually investing a lot of money into commerce. But antripeners, instead of building these powerful families establishd over multiple generations, like the wrothschilds,. invest their wealth into becoming the real elites, which are the gentry and state officials.