China’s economic development has become a matter of world-wide interest since the boom that began in the 1980s. Key Papers in Chinese Economic History since 1949 offers a selection of outstanding articles that trace the origins of the modern Chinese economy. Topics covered include agriculture and the rural economy; industrialisation and urbanisation; finance and capital; political economy and international connections.

China's economic development has become a matter of world-wide interest since the boom that began in the 1980s. 'Key Papers in Chinese Economic History since 1949' offers a selection of outstanding articles that trace the origins of the modern Chinese economy. Topics covered include agriculture and the rural economy; industrialisation and urbanisation; finance and capital; political economy and international connections.

Through a thorough analysis of China's recent history and economic development process, the authors of this book seek to explain the causes of China's economic rise and its impact on the rest of the world.

Economic development in mainland China during the first two decades of Communist control provides a typical example for the difficult task to transform a vast underdeveloped agrarian economy into a modern industrial one. In the first half of this period, a series of massive transformations of social and economic institutions was accompanied by a drafted industrialization program; the result was an impressive speed-up in economic growth. The second decade witnessed an economic crisis (1960-62) and a political upheaval (1966-68). These disruptions marred the economic performance over the period as a whole. Consequently, the long-term growth rate appears to have been only moderate.The Economy of Communist China reviews selected aspects of the economy. After examining the development strategy, it analyzes the quantitative trends and the structural changes. The book goes on to analyze the key factors contributing to the earlier growth and the elements responsible for the later disruption and finally assesses the impact of the Cultural Revolution on the Chinese economy and the prospects of the current Third Five-Year Plan.The text includes a bibliography of selected materials on Chinese economic development.

This comprehensive, interpretive economic history presents the dramatic recent changes in China's approach to economic organization and development in an historical context.

The development of China’s economy has been an enigma to Western historians. Was it centuries of stagnation followed by collapse or was it a process of steady development, reaching a high point by the eighteenth century? What is certain is that its economic growth never developed into a full industrial revolution and was overtaken by the West.