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How can policymakers effectively reduce poverty? Most mainstream economists advocate promoting economic growth, on the grounds that it generally reduces poverty while bringing other economic benefits. However, this dominant hypothesis offers few alternatives for economies that are unable to grow, or in places where economic growth fails to reduce or actually exacerbates poverty. In Small Works, John A. Donaldson draws on his extensive fieldwork in two Chinese provinces—Yunnan and Guizhou—that are exceptions to the purported relationship between economic growth and poverty reduction.
In Yunnan, an outward-oriented developmental state, one that focuses on large-scale, urban development, has largely failed to reduce poverty, even though it succeeded in stimulating economic growth. Provincial policy shaped roads, tourism, and mining in ways that often precluded participation by poor people. By contrast, Guizhou is a micro-oriented state, one that promotes small-scale, low-skill economic opportunities—and so reduces poverty despite slow economic growth. It is no coincidence that this Guizhou approach parallels the ideas encapsulated in the "scientific development view" of China's current president Hu Jintao. After all, Hu, when Guizhou's leader, helped establish the micro-oriented state in the province. Donaldson's conclusions have implications for our understanding of development and poverty reduction, economic change in China, and the thinking behind China's policy decisions.
John A. Donaldson is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Singapore Management University.
"Donaldson's analysis goes beyond the frequently-assumed dichotomy between state and market to scrutinize the various relationships between the two, as well as the different impacts they have on economic growth and poverty reduction. The research design of the book is rigorous and the overall analysis rich in data, vivid, and well-structured. Scholars and graduate students interested in contemporary China or development studies will find this book useful."
Mark W. Frazier, Conoco-Phillips Professor of Chinese Politics and Associate Professor, School of International and Area Studies, University of Oklahoma:
"In Small Works, John A. Donaldson tells a remarkable story of poverty reduction in a province that lagged well behind the rest of China in terms of GDP growth. It turns out that the provincial Communist Party Secretary who promoted such poverty-reducing policies in the late 1980s was none other than the future leader of China, Hu Jintao. Donaldson makes a convincing case that Hu's landmark 'scientific development concept' to spurn the growth-at-all-costs approach of his predecessors had its foundations in the policy achievements of Hu’s tenure in Guizhou province. This book thus provides original and compelling links between micro-level public policy developments and national policy debates and leaders."
Dorothy J. Solinger, University of California, Irvine:
"In Small Works, John A. Donaldson presents startling, fresh, original ideas in a superb way. The overall presentation of his data is flawless, and the book is very compelling and persuasive. This outstanding work displays great polish and reasoning. It is a beautifully framed analysis of a critical topic."
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