Zhao Gang · A Discussion on the History of China's Economic System

Author: Zhao Gang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: In recent years, research on the economic history of China has achieved remarkable accomplishments, but there are two tendencies worth discussing. First, the approach of periodized studies has become quite popular, often failing to reveal the long-term developmental context. Second, some scholars have excessively emphasized the applicability of Marxist economic historiography in Chinese history, selecting historical materials to fit theoretical frameworks. Based on the perspective of general economics, the author re-examines the nature of the ancient Chinese economy, arguing that it was an ancient market economy with a considerable degree of social division of labor and relatively free market activities. From this theoretical foundation, the book conducts a concrete analysis of this market. The market can be divided into two major categories: factor markets and product markets. The first six chapters of the book discuss factor markets, while the last four chapters focus on product markets.