CHINA: an International Journal

September 2005: volume 3, number 2

China's peasants are often blamed for the lack of democracy in China. However, the results from a survey of over one thousand peasants in southern Jiangsu reveal that they strongly support elections and freedom of the press. They laud the reforms carried out thus far but strongly condemn the rampant corruption that still pervades local politics.

There are 102 officially registered political parties in Taiwan. Though they have not yet been able to garner large shares of the vote, they have had a considerable impact on government policy priorities. Key to their future success is formulating a convincing political platform, sufficient resources and shrewd assessment of the electoral environment.

The three books under review attempt to identify and theorise the institutional factors which have contributed to ChinaÕs high economic performance in the reform era. It is argued here that the application of institutional economics is the best way to establish a general equilibrium theory for China's central-local relations.

A main reason for the rising friction between Beijing and Tokyo is the fundamental shift in the political economy of East Asia. Despite the fact that China is the engine that could pull the Japanese economy out of its stagnation, the Prime Minister adamantly refuses to stop visiting Yasukuni Shrine.

Following its pronounced intentions to "rise peacefully" and be a "responsible power", Beijing is loathe to losing its hard-earned trust in the international arena. However, the mounting difficulties that it faces in its Japan policy expose the web of domestic, economic and international constraints it faces.

The residential landscape of Shanghai is becoming more differentiated in terms of homeowners' age, educational attainment, income and personal global connections. Residents who have PGCs seem to have a comparative advantage when it comes to housing. Survey results indicate that they also enjoy higher residential mobility.

In recent years there have been widespread protests in China's rural areas. The No. 1 document of 2004 calls for the elimination of the agriculture tax as well as the lifting of restrictions on labour migration, protection of agricultural land rights and a commitment to supporting rural incomes through price supports and subsidies.

The EU and certain EU states in particular, enjoy intense investment relations and technological cooperation with China. However, both China and the EU, when considering the pros and cons of any important trade issue between them weigh the consequences for other nations, especially the US.