Reflections on Three Decades of “China-Watching”

Abstract

This paper summarizes the author’s three decades of research on China’s economy. Socialism achieved substantial economic gains in China, but at high cost. China’s unorthodox policy of gradual reform has produced an unexpected growth spurt. The author considers the implications of this experience for research on China’s economy and for the study of economic science. The paper concludes with reflections on “China-watching,” which the author sees as eroding the quality of China-oriented research.