Chinese Trade and Industry Series – serie

This title was first published in 2000. This work provides a new insight into china's township and village enterprises (TVEs). It views the governance structure of TVEs as effectively combining the comparative advantage of local government officials in external management and of dual firm managers in internal management to overcome imperfections in both market and government during the transitional period. Through extensive field investigation analysis and case studies, this work shows that the governance structure of TVEs has been evolving during the past fifteen years. To adapt to the changing environment, TVEs have continuously innovated firm contractual form from a government official dominant fixed-wage form to a partnership style profit-sharing form, then to a privatization oriented fixed-rent form. This work develops a complete model to explain how the central government’s partial reform efforts in market liberalization have become the driving force to induce the contractual form innovation, and to explicate how heterogeneity in firms’ technical structures and in local economic settings may affect local government’s decisions regarding contractual form innovation. Using the author’s unique data set, the model simulations predict that the development in the whole market system will result in the diffusion of contractual form innovation and lead to an 'induced privatization’ in this sector. The following empirical studies show this to be a powerful prediction and the progress toward such ’induced privatization' can be expected in China in near future. This research work provides a rich empirical study on China’s institutional transition towards a market system. It explains how a bottom-up endogenous, instead of top-down exogenous, property rights reform can be realized in transitional economies. This work will serve as a valuable reference for researchers and students in economics, economic development and institutional economics - and especially for those interested in research.

This book provides a general description and evaluation of the process of urbanization in China and the urgent challenges facing the Chinese government. Urban Transformation in China examines the changing pattern of China's urban population and the determinants of these changes, including an analysis of the spatial structures of China's cities and industry and an assessment of urban productivity growth and the role of mega cities in national development. The book's coverage encompasses both academic and policy perspectives. With its sister volume Urbanization and Social Welfare in China it provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary overview of the country’s urbanization process.

China's Economic Development and Democratization examines China's transformation from an institutional perspective. It proposes an analytical framework comprising six macro institutional environments: international, ideological, political, economic, constitutional, and civil-social, to analyze the Chinese transition. Through an institutional analysis of the ruling elite’s policy institutionalization, it tries to answer three main questions: Will China’s economic reforms lead to a meaningful political reform? Will economic freedom lead to political freedom? Will economic development lead to political democratization? The major findings from the institutional analysis of the dynamic interactions between political actors and institutions suggest that China is moving closer towards democracy. Students and scholars who are studying or conducting researches on the Chinese economy, society or politics will find this book of particular interest.

Featuring original research findings from a key Chinese national research centre, this book provides researchers with cutting-edge, reliable and comprehensive information about children and youth in modern China. The book employs a unique methodology to analyze China's youth in terms of human capital development in a transitional economy. Coverage spans a wide range of critical issues, including: children's physical and mental development, leisure and consumption choices, youth employment, pop culture, one-child families, internet use, and juvenile delinquency. Written specifically for undergraduate and graduate courses in Economics, China studies, and Development, the book will also be of interest to those wishing to understand Chinese consumer behaviour in this diverse and dynamic region.

This book provides an analysis of the Chinese economy in the context of globalization after China's admission to the WTO. In four parts it addresses globalization, privatization, fiscal policy and financial development. In depth analysis is also given to international trade, industrial development as well as economic performance and the labour market. The Chinese Economy after WTO Accession is a comprehensive study supported by recent data and quantitative analysis. It provides a solid basis for better understanding the possible future directions of China's economy. This volume is an indispensable source for scholars and students alike.

This book identifies the main challenges Chinese agriculture is confronting and considers how these challenges might be met. The performance of China's agricultural production is comprehensively assessed while the factors that affect agricultural productivity are examined through detailed econometric analysis and up to date nationally representative data.

China is indisputably one of the most dynamic economic regions in the world; however the character, nature and extent of its market economy status remains in question. This book provides an empirical analysis of many aspects of the developing market economy including: government reform; the marketization of enterprises; land transactions; capital transactions and finance; the market determination of wage rates; the development of intermediary organizations; and the improvement in the economy's legal framework. China's economic growth has also brought conflict with both the EU and the US. This book examines the contentious debates such as: the extent of renminbi convertibility; the independence of the financial sector; the freedom of labour in wage-rate bargaining; the extent of foreign investment; the extent of government ownership of enterprises; the protection of property rights; and the development of company law and of corporate governance.

The re-emergence of private enterprises is one of the most important factors in China's recent economic development. They will play a key role in maintaining China's high growth rate and honouring its commitments to the WTO. Despite this they face obstacles to growth, including borrowing restrictions, high taxes, ineffective legal protection and lack of technical and information support. The authors in this book discuss these obstacles and propose measures for improving private enterprise development. They consider how private enterprises can help China mitigate its macroeconomic problems, such as unemployment, income inequality, financial disintermediation and cyclical boom and bust. Finally they examine the lessons to be learnt from other countries in promoting privatization.

China's Economic Development and Democratization examines China's transformation from an institutional perspective. It proposes an analytical framework comprising six macro institutional environments: international, ideological, political, economic, constitutional, and civil-social, to analyze the Chinese transition. Through an institutional analysis of the ruling elite’s policy institutionalization, it tries to answer three main questions: Will China’s economic reforms lead to a meaningful political reform? Will economic freedom lead to political freedom? Will economic development lead to political democratization? The major findings from the institutional analysis of the dynamic interactions between political actors and institutions suggest that China is moving closer towards democracy. Students and scholars who are studying or conducting researches on the Chinese economy, society or politics will find this book of particular interest.

Featuring original research findings from a key Chinese national research centre, this book provides researchers with cutting-edge, reliable and comprehensive information about children and youth in modern China. The book employs a unique methodology to analyze China's youth in terms of human capital development in a transitional economy. Coverage spans a wide range of critical issues, including: children's physical and mental development, leisure and consumption choices, youth employment, pop culture, one-child families, internet use, and juvenile delinquency. Written specifically for undergraduate and graduate courses in Economics, China studies, and Development, the book will also be of interest to those wishing to understand Chinese consumer behaviour in this diverse and dynamic region.

This book provides a general description and evaluation of the process of urbanization in China and the urgent challenges facing the Chinese government. Urban Transformation in China examines the changing pattern of China's urban population and the determinants of these changes, including an analysis of the spatial structures of China's cities and industry and an assessment of urban productivity growth and the role of mega cities in national development. The book's coverage encompasses both academic and policy perspectives. With its sister volume Urbanization and Social Welfare in China it provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary overview of the country’s urbanization process.