Imperial examination economics refers to the economic activities and expenditures generated by the civil examination system in imperial China. The supply mechanisms for examination venues during the Ming and Qing Dynasties exemplified the meticulous institutional design of the examination system, with particularly abundant provisions allocated to examination officials, especially chief provincial examiners. Although candidates incurred substantial expenses regardless of family wealth, most scholars aspired to participate. Travel expenditures constituted a major financial burden for candidates, while the official carriage system (gongche) and various private assistance organizations or funds reflected a unique collaborative mechanism between officials and citizens under the imperial examination framework.Periodic“examination markets” (考市) emerged in administrative capitals and prefectural centers during examination periods, forming specialized commercial ecosystems catering to candidates. These cyclical markets stimulated periodic economic prosperity in host cities. Following the abolition of the imperial examination system in 1905, such examination markets declined, though large-scale standardized examinations continue to generate analogous commercial phenomena. Contemporary examination-driven economies remain robust, reflecting societal emphasis on education and assessments. However, its excessive expansion and distortion should be viewed with caution. The Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination) economy presents dual implications: while accommodating legitimate societal demands, it must maintain education’s fundamental purpose of cultivating talent. Gaokao should retain its essence as a merit-based selection mechanism rather than becoming a commercial spectacle. The historical progression from imperial examination economics to Gaokao economy constitutes an inherent feature of examination-oriented societies, warranting rational assessment.