Economic Growth and Equality in Rural China

Abstract

This article first describes the basic outlines of the transformation of the political economy of Xiyang County from the 1960s to 1976. Particular attention is given to the relationship between rapid economic growth and the achievement of increased equality at various levels. Second, we describe and evaluate recent Chinese criticisms which relate to the experience of growth coupled with increased equality in Xiyang, and consider the efforts of some other places to emulate that experience. Finally, the significance of Xiyang County's experience is reevaluated in the light both of the criticisms and of new information on the development of another Chinese county in which the authors carried out field research in 1979.