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  • © 2018

State Failure and Distorted Urbanisation in Post-Mao's China, 1993–2012

  • Investigates ghost cities in China
  • Measures contributions of manufacturing, farming, real estate and services to local GDP to assess the growth engine in Northwest China
  • Explores state failure in relation to industrial policy in Northwest China
  • Analyses growth, public welfare, environment and private capital as signs of state failure

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Economic History (PEHS)

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. Introduction

    • Yazhuo Zheng, Kent Deng
    Pages 1-11
  3. Theoretical Foundation and Literature Review

    • Yazhuo Zheng, Kent Deng
    Pages 13-23
  4. Typical Cases in Northwest China

    • Yazhuo Zheng, Kent Deng
    Pages 25-64
  5. Understanding of China’s State and Market

    • Yazhuo Zheng, Kent Deng
    Pages 65-85
  6. Conundrum with Distorted Urbanisation

    • Yazhuo Zheng, Kent Deng
    Pages 87-112
  7. The Central Government and Its Goals

    • Yazhuo Zheng, Kent Deng
    Pages 113-121
  8. State-led Growth and Domestic Debts

    • Yazhuo Zheng, Kent Deng
    Pages 123-133
  9. Final Conclusions

    • Yazhuo Zheng, Kent Deng
    Pages 135-147
  10. Back Matter

    Pages 149-182

About this book

This book examines failure in the urbanisation of Northwest China as a result of government industrial policies that have impacted on the economic development of the region. By looking at the under-researched provinces of Gansu, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia, which make up a quarter of China's territory, Zheng and Deng challenge the common story of China's miracle growth and reveal the dark side of the country’s pursuit of modernity.

Severe weather conditions, chronic drought, permanent lack of oxygen and unforgiving terrain in the Northwest make farming, manufacture and services difficult simply because people tend not to stay. Yet, China’s current political system forces growth to take place even though basic conditions and prerequisites for market-based growth are missing. This volume analyses 'ghost cities' and social tension in the process of ‘forced urbanisation’ in which huge amount of resources are wasted, the local environment is systematically damaged and ordinary people’s basic rights are brutally violated in the name of higher GDP and greater government glory.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Beijing Enlightenment Institute for Economic and Social Research, Beijing, China

    Yazhuo Zheng

  • London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom

    Kent Deng

About the authors

Yazhuo Zheng is President of the Beijing Enlightenment Institute for Economic and Social Research, China. Zheng is a scholar-turned government official; her experience as a local bureaucrat in addition to being an academic researcher have allowed her a unique insight into China’s on-going problems with state incompetence.

Kent Deng is Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. His research interests include Chinese and Maritime Economic History. He is Series Editor for Palgrave Studies in Economic History.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access