Introduction

Abstract

China’s economic performance is impressive since it reformed and opened up its economy in 1978. This most populous country in the world achieved an average annual real growth rate of around 9.5 per cent over the period 1978–2000. Her growth performance is superior to that of other populous countries such as India and Brazil, other transitional economies such as Poland and Russia, and also that of the fast- growing Southeast Asian ‘Little Dragons’ such as Malaysia and Thailand.