Understanding the Chinese Economies

Understanding the Chinese Economies

by Rongxing Guo
Released September 2012
Publisher(s): Academic Press
ISBN: 9780123978288

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

China's economic growth has been more robust in some regions than others.  In a country as large as China, examinations of regional differences can provide a viable way to learn about the economy as a whole.  Rongxing Guo provides a systematic introduction to the economies of China by describing their external and internal drivers and by placing them within geopolitical and even socio-cultural boundaries.  His pairings of case studies and empirical techniques reveal a rich, deep appreciation of the growth process and of interactions between key factors. This book delves more deeply into issues surrounding the economy than other books, offering a unique and important perspective that many will find useful.  Covering history and administrative structures, unique economic features, some domestic economic issues, and international economic engagement, it describes an often inaccessible perspective with nuances all students of China will find valuable



  • Introduces China’s regional economies, often overlooked in US and European texts within larger contexts of social and geopolitical concerns 
  • Explains the reform process since 1978 in a comprehensive, non-technical, and accessible manner
  • Includes online ancillaries of documents, links, and more, expanding the text and keeping it up-to-date
  • Features case studies in each chapter

Table of contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. List of Boxes
  7. List of Case Studies
  8. List of Figures
  9. List of Tables
  10. Contents of the Companion
  11. List of Abbreviations
  12. Acknowledgments
  13. Map
  14. Introduction
  15. Chapter 1. A Brief History of China
    1. 1.1 The Origins of the Nation
    2. 1.2 The Rise and Fall of the Empire
    3. 1.3 China in the New Millennium
    4. References
  16. Chapter 2. Spatial and Administrative Divisions
    1. 2.1 Administrative Divisions
    2. 2.2 Great Regions
    3. 2.3 Geographical Belts
    4. 2.4 Southern and Northern Parts
    5. 2.5 Ethno-Cultural Areas
    6. 2.6 Summary
    7. References
  17. Chapter 3. Human and Cultural Contexts
    1. 3.1 Population
    2. 3.2 Labor Force
    3. 3.3 Education
    4. 3.4 Cultural Diversity
    5. 3.5 Summary
    6. References
  18. Chapter 4. Natural and Environmental Resources
    1. 4.1 Natural Resources
    2. 4.2 Energy Production
    3. 4.3 Environmental Quality
    4. 4.4 Chinese Environmental Policy
    5. 4.5 Policy Implications
    6. References
  19. Chapter 5. Political and Administrative Systems
    1. 5.1 Party Versus State
    2. 5.2 Government and Administrative Systems
    3. 5.3 Legal System
    4. 5.4 (Dis)advantages of China’s Political System
    5. 5.5 Further Implications
    6. References
  20. Chapter 6. Economic Systems in Transition
    1. 6.1 Economic Transition, Chinese Style
    2. 6.2 Getting Out of Plan
    3. 6.3 Labor and Employment
    4. 6.4 Production Ownership
    5. 6.5 Public Finance
    6. 6.6 Banking System
    7. 6.7 Summary
    8. References
  21. Chapter 7. Understanding Chinese Economic Reform
    1. 7.1 Radical Reform: The Successful Cases
    2. 7.2 Radical Reform: The Unsuccessful Cases
    3. 7.3 Gradual/Partial Reform: The Successful Cases
    4. 7.4 Gradual/Partial Reform: The Unsuccessful Cases
    5. 7.5 Whither Chinese-Style Reform?
    6. 7.6 Summary
    7. References
  22. Chapter 8. Economic Growth and Income (Re)distribution
    1. 8.1 Macroeconomic Performance
    2. 8.2 Understanding Economic Growth
    3. 8.3 Income Distribution and Inequality
    4. 8.4 Income Redistribution and Social Security
    5. 8.5 Summary
    6. Annex
    7. References
  23. Chapter 9. A Multiregional Economic Comparison
    1. 9.1 China’s Statistical Systems
    2. 9.2 Macroeconomic Performance
    3. 9.3 Real Living Standards
    4. 9.4 Regional Economic Disparity
    5. 9.5 Summary
    6. Annex
    7. References
  24. Chapter 10. Regional Diseconomies and Development Strategy
    1. 10.1 Spatial Comparative Advantages
    2. 10.2 Spatial Economic Separation
    3. 10.3 Spatial Diseconomies and China
    4. 10.4 Regional Development Strategies
    5. 10.5 Summary
    6. References
  25. Chapter 11. Industrialization and Technological Progress
    1. 11.1 Industrialization During the Pre-Reform Era
    2. 11.2 Industrialization During the Reform Era
    3. 11.3 Technological Progress
    4. 11.4 Intellectual Property Rights
    5. Annex
    6. References
  26. Chapter 12. International Economic Engagement
    1. 12.1 Historical Review
    2. 12.2 Toward an Open Economy
    3. 12.3 Foreign Trade
    4. 12.4 Understanding China’s Trade Performance
    5. 12.5 Summary
    6. Annex
    7. References
  27. Chapter 13. Inward and Outward Direct Investments
    1. 13.1 Some Basic Concepts
    2. 13.2 Inflow of Foreign Direct Investment
    3. 13.3 Outward Direct Investment
    4. Annex
    5. References
  28. Chapter 14. Doing Business in China
    1. 14.1 Starting a Business
    2. 14.2 Ease of Doing Business Across China
    3. 14.3 Understanding China’s Business Culture
    4. 14.4 Managing Cultural Differences
    5. Annex
    6. References
  29. Chapter 15. Understanding the Chinese-Speaking Economies
    1. 15.1 The Greater China Area
    2. 15.2 A Multiregional Economic Comparison
    3. 15.3 Cross-Strait Economic Relations
    4. 15.4 Overseas Chinese Economics
    5. Annex
    6. References
  30. Chronology
  31. Glossary
  32. Index

Product information

  • Title: Understanding the Chinese Economies
  • Author(s): Rongxing Guo
  • Release date: September 2012
  • Publisher(s): Academic Press
  • ISBN: 9780123978288