How China Opened Its Door: The Political Success of the Prc's Foreign Trade and Investment Reform (Integrating National Economies : Promise and Pitf)

By Susan L. Shirk

Book Overview

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China's transformation from a virtually closed economy to a major trading nation is an incredible success story. Since 1979 the country has changed it's policies to promote increased foreign trade and investment, thereby attracting more direct investment to China than to any other developing country in recent years. What brought about this change? How, after thirty years of being walled off form the world economy, did China open its door?

This book part of the Integrating National Economies series, tells the story of how China ended it long-held policies of economic isolationism and rejoined the world economy in the decade and a half between 1979 and 1994. It shows how China's transformation into a world trading power was achieved remarkably without any major alteration in the country's communist political system. Susan L. Shirk describes the reform strategy and explains why such a turn-around was possible in China but not in the Soviet Union.

Shirk's analysis details the political logic behind the economic reform, illustrating how China's leaders were able to win support for reform politics among Communist Party and government officials. Despite strong vested interest in the status quo, the communist government successfully adopted reforms through gradualism, administrative decentralization, and ad hoc particularistic negotiating with individual subordinates. Shirk explains these distinctive features of China's path to reform.

China has achieved shallow integration with great success. Whether deeper integration with the world economy will automatically follow remains unclear. Shirk concludes that China will not be able to achieve reform in the areas of deep integration--intellectual property rights, environmental protection, and labor treatment--in the same way it achieved shallow integration. She argues that imposing international standards will require rapid enforcement, central regulation, and uniform rules. If China can meet these challe"

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0815778538
• ISBN13: 9780815778530
• Release Date: October 1994
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
• Length: 148 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

How China opened its door ?

China opened its door already ?No, China is still opening its door step by step but in the very slowest speed.When China opened its narrow door, they needed to watch out from the small hole, narrow gap and also worry, worry and worry in their minds.WTO with China, so all the nations are asking him to open their door quickly. Why worry ?They worried its door if open too quick, reckon they cannot easy to control all counties in China.Old mens policy in China's leadership is very concerning on their power in military, economy and political controls.Therefore, Door is just opening !!Do you have time to wait ?5 years, 10 years or next decade.China is Slower and not same as American and European.Now, you need to learn more on waiting.Waiting for what ?Free investment zones, Well educated people or others !Waiting, it can help you to learn on cool down your busy minds.And think more deepest on your business growth.