作者估計明末百年間，約有近3億兩的白銀流入中國。傳統的意見認?它填補了中國自?白銀的不足，導致了明後期中國財政的白銀化，以及造成東南沿海地區經濟的更形繁榮。但作者以?，應該是當時中國經濟的貨幣化/市場化的發展，導致了明後期中國政府財政的貨幣化；國際貿易、而非流入的白銀造成東南沿海地區經濟的更形繁榮。明中、後期發生的錢荒，不一定要靠流入的白銀來填補；可兌換紙幣是一個可能的解決方案。最後要指出的是：明、清時期大量流入的白銀，可能對中國政府的貨幣政策和貨幣制度產生了負面影響。

The author estimates the quantity of silver inflow during the last hundred years of the Ming dynasty based on literature review, and finds that there were almost 300 million taels of silver imported. Traditional beliefs are as follows. The vast quantity of imported silver supplemented the insufficient domestic production. This in turn led to the monetization of government finance and the economic prosperity of China’s southeast coast. The author argues instead that the advance of China towards a currency-based market economy led to the monetization of late Ming government finance. Further, international trade, not imported silver, supported the economic prosperity of China’s southeastern region. Finally, the imported silver was not the only solution to the lack of currency in circulation for the latter half of the Ming dynasty. For example, convertible paper money could be an alternative option. It is important to point out that the vast amount of imported silver might have adverse effects on the monetary policy and the monetary system of the Ming and Ching governments.