Reform of Ownership in Modern China

An extensive account of China’s comprehensive private ownership reforms from 1978 to 2008. This key book uses case studies, research findings and clear examples to examine the sequence and difficulties of China’s ownership reforms since the reform and opening up policy was introduced 30 years ago. Leading Chinese academics Zou Dongtao and Ouyang Rihui discuss all aspects of this vital subject, including the changing theories and practice of public ownership, China’s modern property rights policies, ownership structures and the consequent economic impacts, developments around private investment and ownership reform, rural land reforms, and China’s economic transformation.

Reform of Ownership in Modern China is user-friendly and approachable. Whilst the issue of ownership reform is a serious and scholarly one, the authors combine rich research knowledge with examples and academic theories, plus quotations, anecdotes, idioms, and Chinese sayings to help elaborate theoretical problems. Examples include the use of Chinese idioms to illustrate various theorems in a Chinese context. Case studies include ‘the first enterprise contractor in China’ and ‘the first private restaurant in China’.

Ownership reform is of immense practical concern to the future of China and the world’s economy as well as a key topic in economic theory. The degree of understanding of this phenomenon will influence or even decide the process and pace of other reforms in China. This book supplies unique and important practical insight into all aspects of ownership reform which will benefit those countries considering and debating whether to choose between privatization and nationalization, especially socialist countries undergoing reform.