Lì Yining Economic Review Collection

Author: Li Yining
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Everything in the world follows objective laws; what seems "chaotic" is actually "perfectly ordered." As for human affairs, as long as they align with objective laws, governance becomes simpler and paths broader. "Inaction" inevitably leads to "action."
? Explanation of "One monk lacks water to drink, three monks have more water than they can use"
? Case 1: Monastery A, far from the river, had a long stone path to the river. A single monk found it difficult to carry water the entire distance, so the three monks took turns, dividing the path into three sections, ensuring a continuous supply of clean water.
? Case 2: Monastery B, where an old monk introduced a competitive mechanism, found that no one was eager to fetch water. The old monk established new rules, rewarding diligence and punishing laziness, and the disciples suddenly worked like lightning.
? Case 3: Monastery C, where a young monk implemented technological reforms, connected the water source to the temple by cutting bamboo and creating a water channel. The pulley system allowed water to flow steadily, and the on-duty disciples simply turned the handle, ensuring ample water in the temple.
In the past, it was often said, "One monk fetches water to drink, two monks carry water to drink, and three monks have no water to drink." This idea is outdated and not in line with modern market economy concepts. The modern market economy concept is, "One monk lacks water to drink, and three monks have more water than they can use."
The articles collected in this book are the author's writings from recent years (including prefaces written for others' works) and speech drafts compiled from audio recordings or graduate student notes. These articles and speeches can be considered genuine records of the author's academic activities in recent years. The author has repeatedly told his graduate students that researching real-world economic issues and policies differs from general theoretical economics research. This is mainly because it involves a broader scope and requires higher practical verification. When studying real-world economic issues, to grasp the core problems, one must delve into practice, possess deep theoretical knowledge, a broad knowledge base, and extensive information channels. Additionally, drawing on historical experiences from both domestic and international contexts is essential to reach conclusions that align with reality and to find effective solutions.
Of course, this is quite challenging, but the author has always strived in this direction. Some views and suggestions proposed by the author in the book may be correct or not, and only time will tell through practice. Until then, only patience is required—no need to rush or engage in endless debates with scholars holding differing opinions. This is the author's fundamental attitude toward certain urgent and contentious viewpoints.