Rongxing Guo 
An Introduction to the Chinese Economy [PDF ebook] 
The Driving Forces Behind Modern Day China

This comprehensive overview of the modern Chinese economy by a noted expert from China offers a quality and breadth of coverage. In this book, the author provides an introduction to China’s economy since 1949 and original insights based on his own extensive research. The book sets out to analyze and compare the operational mechanisms of the Chinese economy between the pre- and post-reform periods and through national, regional and local dimensions. Both positive and negative consequences of the Chinese economic transformation have been clarified. A multiregional comparison of the Chinese economy is conducted in terms of natural and human resources, institutional evolution, as well as economic and social performances. At last, some key issues relating to the inherent operational mechanisms of and the dynamic patterns of the Chinese economy are also discussed.

Daftar Isi

List of figures ix

List of tables ix

List of abbreviations x

Acknowledgments xi

Notes from the author xiii

Chapter 1: A brief history of China 1

The origins of the nation 2

Rise and fall of the empire 4

China in the new millennium 11

Chapter 2: Spatial and administrative divisions 15

Administrative divisions 16

Great regions 20

Geographical belts 21

Southern and northern parts 23

Ethno-cultural areas 24

Chapter 3: The foundation of the Chinese economy (I) 29

Land and water 30

Minerals and energy resources 35

Environmental quality 42

Policy implications 50

Chapter 4: The foundation of the Chinese economy (II) 55

Population 56

Labor and education 61

Technological innovation 67

Cultural influence 70

Chapter 5: Political and economic systems 79

Party versus state 80

State and market 84

Market-oriented reform 89

Enterprise management 92

Finance and banking 99

Future perspective 103

Chapter 6: Economic growth and social justice 109

Economic growth 110

Regional economic differences 114

How (un)equal is the Chinese society? 121

Poverty and social security 125

Chapter 7: International economic engagement 129

Historical background 130

China opens its door 133

Foreign direct investment 140

Foreign trade 146

Chapter 8: Studying Chinese economics: Key issues 153

Why China has a collectivistic culture 154

Why China adopted a gradual economic reform 160

Why the Chinese economy cannot be spatially optimized 167

Why China’s long-term growth isn’t sustainable 172

Appendixes 177

A historical chronology 177

China’s cultural similarity with your country 184

Bibliography 191

Index 197

Tentang Penulis

RONGXING GUO is currently a professor and Head of the
Regional Economics Committee at the Regional Science Association of
China at Peking University. He is also Visiting Fellow for Foreign
Policy at the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, at the
Brookings Institution.

Guo specializes in regional economics with an emphasis on Chinese
economic issues and in cross-border and cross-cultural issues. He
has over 20 years of experience in teaching and research in China,
as well as in Australia, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Germany, and
the US. His recent research projects include cross-cultural
economic management, intercultural economic analysis, cross-border
resource management, conflict management in disputed areas,
economic growth and income distribution, and Chinese economic
reform.

In 2008, Guo received an award for Outstanding Research in the
Ninth Global Development Conference held in Australia. He has
published more than 20 books in both English and Chinese.