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Book Description

Truths and Half Truths is aimed at economic and social science academics and students who are interested in the dynamics of China’s institutional development and societal transformation. Covering the complexity of the social, economic, and governance reforms behind the economic miracles achieved by China since its reform in 1978, and particularly in the past twenty years, this book provides much needed insight and critical thinking on major aspects of China’s reform. Topics include employment, environment, anti-poverty; urbanization and rural development; education, corruption, political regime and media. Readers will be able to re-evaluate the costs and benefits of China’s modernization from a point-of-view of sustainability.

  • Written by highly knowledgeable and well respected academics in law and economics with decades of experience in China studies
  • Provides an insight from academic points of view written in a reader-friendly journalistic style
  • An integrated monograph; each chapter addresses a particular area of reform and can be read independently

Table of Contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Copyright
  5. Preface
  6. Acknowledgements
  7. List of abbreviations
  8. List of figures and tables
  9. Note on transliteration and currency
  10. Political map of China
  11. About the authors
  12. Chapter 1: Population and employment
    1. Abstract:
    2. Demography shapes Chinese society – population dynamics and economic implications
    3. Employment reform – from labor system to labor market
  13. Chapter 2: Social security
    1. Abstract:
    2. Social security reform – process and challenges
    3. Pension reform
    4. Housing reform
    5. Healthcare reform
  14. Chapter 3: Economic growth versus environmental degradation
    1. Abstract:
    2. A legacy of ecological devastation
    3. Environmental challenges
    4. Positive government action
    5. Obstacles to sustainable development
  15. Chapter 4: Anti-poverty campaign – the struggle between equality and efficiency
    1. Abstract:
    2. Extent of poverty – dimensions and alternative estimates
    3. Income-earning potential of urban and rural poor
    4. Evolution of income distribution disparity in China since the economic reforms
  16. Chapter 5: Rural land, peasants, and agriculture
    1. Abstract:
    2. Who owns the land?
    3. Eviction without compensation
    4. Playing ‘cat-and-mouse’ with Beijing
    5. Unprofitable agriculture
    6. A threat of food crisis
    7. Rulers of China, beware!
  17. Chapter 6: Corruption in contemporary China – an old dilemma with new features
    1. Abstract:
    2. Measuring corruption
    3. Characteristics of corruption
    4. Dilemma of anti-corruption agencies
    5. Corruption in China’s anti-corruption agencies
    6. Beijing’s entrenched dilemma
    7. The way ahead: ‘selective toleration of corruption’ or radical reform?
  18. Chapter 7: Educational developments and challenges
    1. Abstract:
    2. Basic education
    3. Higher education reform: from elite education to mass production
    4. Half way across the river
  19. Chapter 8: Enterprises, foreign trade, and the financial sector
    1. Abstract:
    2. State-owned enterprise reform
    3. Foreign trade and investment
  20. Chapter 9: Political reform, civil society, media, and international relations
    1. Abstract:
    2. Beyond socialism and capitalism
    3. Civil society: the lost intellectuals and a conservative middle class
    4. Freedom of speech and media reform
    5. China’s rise: a threat to the world?
  21. Appendix Chronology of key events in the history of reform (1978–2010)
  22. Bibliography
  23. Index
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