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Fu Jun: Pathways to Prosperity

Sep 29-2021   



 

From USD156 in 1978, China’s per capita GDP had skyrocketed to USD10,000 by 2020, a miracle capped with the eradication of poverty and the realization of a moderately prosperous society. Inspired by the grand conception of symphony, Prof. Fu Jun of the NSD has just published a book recounting six milestone stories – arranged like symphonic movements based on their inner logic - in China’s development since 1949.

 

Published by Peking University Press, Pathways to Prosperity in Meta-heuristic Theory of Growth: A China Narrative begins every chapter with data comparisons and a “why” question to set the tone and provoke thoughts. The intersections of politics and economics offer solid ground for juxtaposition of things abstract and concrete, intuitive and analytical. The book also makes for excellent material for case-study teaching.

 

The chapter on the evolution of barefooted doctors to rural doctors centers on the fundamental relationship between human capital and economic development and presents the institutional innovations of China’s vast rural medical system. The story of Xiao Gang Village, where the rural contract responsibility system was born, highlights the importance of incentive and property right. The next chapter delineates China’s path from agriculture to industrialization and urbanization through the prism of township enterprises.

 

The Story of Spring zooms in on the connection between economic theory and development strategy via Shenzhen’s miraculous ascent where multiple constructive forces, including political leadership and entrepreneurship, have come together. Bamboos provide yet another story to examine sustainable development and local endeavors to tap social capital and other resources. The last story features the SARS outbreak and draws attention to the people-first theme of development and the boundary between government, market and society.

 

The narratives are followed by a meta-heuristic theory of growth that transcends mainstream neo-classical economic paradigms and fuses behaviorism, structuralism and evolutionism. Simple mathematic formulae are applied to outline the core elements of economic development and their interactions.

Fu Jun: Pathways to Prosperity

Sep 29-2021   



 

From USD156 in 1978, China’s per capita GDP had skyrocketed to USD10,000 by 2020, a miracle capped with the eradication of poverty and the realization of a moderately prosperous society. Inspired by the grand conception of symphony, Prof. Fu Jun of the NSD has just published a book recounting six milestone stories – arranged like symphonic movements based on their inner logic - in China’s development since 1949.

 

Published by Peking University Press, Pathways to Prosperity in Meta-heuristic Theory of Growth: A China Narrative begins every chapter with data comparisons and a “why” question to set the tone and provoke thoughts. The intersections of politics and economics offer solid ground for juxtaposition of things abstract and concrete, intuitive and analytical. The book also makes for excellent material for case-study teaching.

 

The chapter on the evolution of barefooted doctors to rural doctors centers on the fundamental relationship between human capital and economic development and presents the institutional innovations of China’s vast rural medical system. The story of Xiao Gang Village, where the rural contract responsibility system was born, highlights the importance of incentive and property right. The next chapter delineates China’s path from agriculture to industrialization and urbanization through the prism of township enterprises.

 

The Story of Spring zooms in on the connection between economic theory and development strategy via Shenzhen’s miraculous ascent where multiple constructive forces, including political leadership and entrepreneurship, have come together. Bamboos provide yet another story to examine sustainable development and local endeavors to tap social capital and other resources. The last story features the SARS outbreak and draws attention to the people-first theme of development and the boundary between government, market and society.

 

The narratives are followed by a meta-heuristic theory of growth that transcends mainstream neo-classical economic paradigms and fuses behaviorism, structuralism and evolutionism. Simple mathematic formulae are applied to outline the core elements of economic development and their interactions.