A specific example that comes under Giovanni's critique is the relation between demographic and economic growth. Since we have more data on quantities and growth rates of people than of their goods, I sometimes try to infer something about the latter from the former. Giovanni says that is not legit. Well, how legit it is depends - on what direct evidence we have about the goods, what other inferential evidence we have, how consistent the inferences are with other evidence or inferences. Giovanni is not satisfied.
Lets get more and better data.
Several sinologist are digging up data and constructing data bases that demonstrate higher growth rates of output, income, standards of living, indeed of the life expectancy that is the ultimate 'standard' of living, in China than anywhere in Europe before 1800. Another example, where Giovanni is on stronger ground, is my reference to long economic cycles. Perhaps they are not adequately documented or even documentable - yet. But, contrary to Giovanni who first introduced me to long cycles in 1972 but now disavows them, my argument neither stands on nor falls with such cycles. Giovanni also falsely accuses me of accepting or rejecting arguments on the basis of whether they consist of or contribute to Eurocentrism, which he rightly rejects as an acceptable criterion.