"... today's China as described in Wolfram Elsner and Elyar Najmehchi's magnificent account ..."
—Prof. James K. Galbraith, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, US (excerpt from the foreword)
"With an objective lens, this book examines China's achievements and existing challenges, offering us a brand-new dimension for observation."
—Prof. Justin Yifu Lin, Dean, Institute of New Structural Economics, Peking University, China
"This book ... stands above the many contemporary publications regarding China, its society, economy and geopolitical role, because of its wealth of references and data."
—Prof. Stavros Mavroudeas, Department of Social Policy, Panteion University, Greece
This book provides unique insight into the economic system, structures, and policies that define modern China and its position within the changing global economy. It charts China’s rise from poor developing country to major power within the global economic system and international politics. The drivers of this change, including the specific nature of the Chinese economy and governance, are discussed to highlight the processes and socio-economic initiatives that have helped China become a global superpower. The book examines in detail all major areas of societal development and policy-making, including the different social fields and everyday behavior, as well as regional, urban, ethnic, cultural, and ecological developments. Particular focus is given to technology, industrial and economic policies, income distribution, and the Belt and Road Initiative.
This book offers a thoughtful guide to how China has evolved from a centrally planned economy towards state-guided growth with a socialist tendency that makes highly effective use of markets. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in the political economy and the role of China within the global economy.
Wolfram Elsner is a retired Professor of Economics at the University of Bremen, Germany, and a Guest Professor at the School of Economics, Jilin University, China.
Elyar Najmehchi holds an MA in Economy and Society of East Asia from the University of Vienna, Austria.
This book provides unique insight into the economic system, structures, and policies that define modern China and its position within the changing global economy. It charts China’s rise from poor developing country to major power within the global economic system and international politics. The drivers of this change, including the specific nature of the Chinese economy and governance, are discussed to highlight the processes and socio-economic initiatives that have helped China become a global superpower. The book examines in detail all major areas of societal development and policy-making, including the different social fields and everyday behavior, as well as regional, urban, ethnic, cultural, and ecological developments. Particular focus is given to technology, industrial and economic policies, income distribution, and the Belt and Road Initiative.
This book offers a thoughtful guide to how China has evolved from a centrally planned economy towards state-guided growth with a socialist tendency that makes highly effective use of markets. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in the political economy and the role of China within the global economy.
With a foreword by James Galbraith.
Wolfram Elsner
The Chinese economy Belt-and-Road Initiative Political economy of China Chinese labour markets World economy Planned economy Industrial policy State ownership Inequality in China Climate protection Anti-corruption in China Participative democracy Foreign direct investment State capitalism Socialist market economy
“Amid the international media being saturated with ideological biases and theories like "China’s Growth Peaked" and "China’s Economy Collapsing" running rampant, the English edition of The Rise of China can be regarded as a rare breath of fresh air. With an objective lens, this book examines China's achievements and existing challenges, offering us a brand-new dimension for observation.” (Prof. Justin Yifu Lin, Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics, Honorary Dean of the National School of Development, and Honorary Dean of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, Peking University, China)
“The peaceful rising of the People's Republic of China is one of the greatest events in the 21st century. Professor Wolfram Elsner is a pioneer in studies of China’s development and his books on China are a bridge between the West and the East.” (Prof. Ping Chen, National School of Development, Peking University, China, and Research Fellow, China Institute, Fudan University, China)
“This book offers a very honest and extensive analysis of China and its spectacular rise during the recent decades. It debunks convincingly the myths and hypocritical accusations of the collective West through a meticulous presentation of evidence and data. Moreover, it does not shy away from addressing the intricate questions that concern the specific characteristics, mechanisms and contradictions of the Chinese economy and society in relation to the process of socialist transition. It stands above the many contemporary publications regarding China, its society, economy and geopolitical role, because of its wealth of references and data.” (Prof. Stavros Mavroudeas, Department of Social Policy, Panteion University, Greece)
“Rather than posing as an expert from afar, over a sequence of years Professor Wolfram Elsner has visited China annually, integrating himself into the scientific and academic scene. To date he has authored three books dealing with China’s promising prospects for economic and social development. This new title from Palgrave-Macmillan registers as the first of his three books.” (Prof. John B. Hall, Department of Economics, Portland State University, USA)
“The book comprehensively explicates an early argument by John K. Galbraith that “(t)he Chinese economy isn’t the American or European future. But it is the Chinese future. And let there be no doubt: For the Chinese, it works.” (Galbraith [1973] 1989, 137) On top of this, the various pieces of evidence and arguments presented by the author are highly inspiring, encouraging readers to reflect on the lessons that can be learned from China’s development process, even though its system is not perfect and cannot be directly replicated in other countries – just as no system in the world can be.” (Prof. Ricardo Siu, Department of Finance and Business Economics, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, China)
“As few in the advanced industrial world have anything but a passing familiarity with ancient civilizations, and less with civilizations that are not deemed direct antecedents of their own, the book pays particular attention to such important factors as history, culture, institutions and political economy, which contributed greatly to the country’s astonishing economic rise. This is social science presented as an especially penetrating and insightful way that clarifies and confronts important theoretical and policy issues in an international environment so negatively affected by geopolitics.” (Prof. Nikolaos Karagiannis, Winston-Salem State University, USA)
“The Rise of China is an excellent and highly significant book. It introduces, in a didactic and elegant manner, how Chinese society evolved from a poor country into one of the great economies of the twenty-first century. The authors clearly state the perspective they adopt to analyze the Chinese economy, which makes the discussion coherent and well-articulated. The Rise of China is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the evolution of the Chinese economy.” (Prof. Felipe Almeida, Department of Economics, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil)