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A Political Economy Pattern of China's History: On Revolution, Reform, and Involution under Dictatorship

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  • Jiancai Pi

    (China Center for Economic Research, Peking University)

Abstract

This paper aims to develop an integrated analytical framework for revolution, reform, and involution under dictatorship based on China’s history. In order to grasp the essence of political and economic interactions in historic China, this paper gets some abstract variables from China's history, on the basis of which a political economy model is built. The autocrat plays an important role in determining authority form and development pattern, which endogenously brings about different outcomes of revolution, reform, and involution. When the economic system is closed, path-dependence plays an important role, however, when the system is open, we should not attach much importance to path-dependence.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiancai Pi, 2008. "A Political Economy Pattern of China's History: On Revolution, Reform, and Involution under Dictatorship," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 6(1), pages 21-27.
  • Handle: RePEc:zna:indecs:v:6:y:2008:i:1:p:21-27
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zak, Paul J. & Feng, Yi, 2003. "A dynamic theory of the transition to democracy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 1-25, September.
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    3. Lin, Justin Yifu, 1995. "The Needham Puzzle: Why the Industrial Revolution Did Not Originate in China," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 43(2), pages 269-292, January.
    4. repec:ner:ucllon:http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/17678/ is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Ling Shen, 2007. "When will a Dictator be Good?," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 31(2), pages 343-366, May.
    6. Acemoglu, Daron, 2003. "Why not a political Coase theorem? Social conflict, commitment, and politics," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 620-652, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    revolution; reform; involution; dictatorship; path-dependence; China's history;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • P40 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - General

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