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The bird in the cage: Chinese export promotion policies and the development of the Special Economic Zones, 1960-1982

Posted on:1992-05-01Degree:Ph.DType:Dissertation
University:Columbia UniversityCandidate:Reardon, Lawrence ChristopherFull Text:PDF
GTID:1479390014498185Subject:History
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
This dissertation uses the case study approach to understand the interaction between the domestic and international environments and its affect on China's foreign economic policy from 1960 to 1982. By analyzing public and internal speeches, Directives, Circulars and Reports, the study argues that the international environment provided general parameters within which Chinese foreign economic policies operated. Yet, Chinese foreign economic policy (dependent variable) was primarily influenced by the import substitution domestic development strategy (intervening variable), which was determined by domestic political and economic factors (independent variables). The dissertation specifically focuses on Export Commodity Production Base policy (1960-1979) and Special Economic Zone policy (1979-1982) formation and implementation.; The dissertation concludes that during the period studied, there existed a basic pattern of "policy cycles"; between 1959 and 1982, the cycle was completed six times. The Chinese policy cycle not only determined the formation and implementation of the domestic development strategy, but also the foreign economic policy that was derived from the development strategy.; The basic cycle is initiated by the perception of economic chaos caused by the previous domestic development strategy. During the policy readjustment phase, a new elite coalition is formed, based on a consensus concerning a particular philosophy of development. Measures are adopted to reduce the most adverse effects of the previous developmental strategy. During the second phase of the policy cycle, policy innovation, the new elite coalition proffers a new or revised development strategy; they formulate innovative measures designed to accelerate national economic development. The third cycle phase, policy implementation, is the most complicated stage. The policies implemented might create ideological opposition or long-term economic disruption, including shortages, inflation, and onerous debt. Bureaucratic and/or regional distributional coalitions also might delay policy implementation or distort the policy to benefit themselves.; If these problems are not resolved, the elite coalition might reintervene in the policy process and adopt an intermediate readjustment of policy. Yet their intervention might not prevent a growing perception of economic chaos. Such a perception would initiate elite coalition decay and a repeat of the policy cycle.
Keywords/Search Tags:Economic, Policy, Development, Elite coalition, Chinese, Policies
PDF Full Text Request
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