Commentary
Yukon Huang, Isaac B. Kardon, Matt Sheehan
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Source: Getty
In The Media
China’s Changing Economy
In the past three decades, China has changed from what would be described as a centrally-planned economy to what could be called a state-led capitalist system that is more private-oriented and subject to market forces.
By Yukon Huang
Published on May 22, 2015
Source: U.S.-China Policy Foundation
In an interview with China Forum, Carnegie’s Yukon Huang discussed how China’s economy has shifted in the past decades. He described how China has changed from what would be described as a centrally-planned economy to what could be called a state-led capitalist system that is more private-oriented and subject to market forces. This was not an easy process; China’s changing economy means lowering economic growth rates and property adjustment. Huang said that going forward, it remained to be seen whether the expected 5-6 percent growth in the next 5-10 years is sustainable and what is the quality of that growth.
Huang also discussed anticorruption efforts in China and their potential impact on China’s economic growth. He said that in the short-term, these efforts will likely hinder growth. Corruption in China has actually been a positive for economic growth in the past, Huang explained, but it has other negative consequences. In the long-term, if China continues to become more market-oriented, corruption becomes less necessary. Therefore, Xi’s campaign against corruption could potentially be good for long-term growth.
This interview was originally broadcast by the U.S.-China Policy Foundation.
About the Author
Yukon Huang
Senior Fellow, Asia Program
Huang is a senior fellow in the Carnegie Asia Program where his research focuses on China’s economy and its regional and global impact.
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