On Deep-Rooted Problems in China’s Economy

Abstract

China’s economy is currently at a crossroad leading to two different directions. One is to further deepen the reform, concentrate on crucial aspects and relax control over details, govern by non-intervention and let the market play an increasing role and lead the economy; while the other is to enhance the state sector with weakening the private sector, and let the government play a greater role and lead the economy. Which direction should China head for? The answer would undoubtedly be the former. As such, this paper argues that there does not exist the so-called “China Model” and attributes the deep-seated problems caused by those misconceptions in China’s economy to three pairs of “over-emphasis” versus “under-emphasis”, namely, over-emphasis on the government versus under-emphasis on the market, over-emphasis on enriching state versus under-emphasis on enriching the people, and over-emphasis on development versus under-emphasis on public service. Moreover, in regard to how to solve these problems, the paper proposes to further advance the two fundamental transformations of government functions: (1) to transform from a development-oriented government to a service-oriented government, and (2) to transform from an omnipotent government to a limited government.

Keywords

government versus market / enriching state versus enriching the people / development versus public service / government functions

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Brill