The Thomas Crampton Channel

China developed by luck, not planning

Economist and Beijing-based national coordinator for the UK-China Sustainable Development Dialogue, Leo Horn, attacks the notion that China offers a new model for economic development.

China developed thanks to good luck, not good planning, Horn says.

Development experts and ideologues of all shades are touting the ‘China Development Model’ as incontrovertible evidence in support of their disparate theories of development. And developing country leaders are turning to China in search of solutions to their own developmental quagmires.

But, he writes, China's reality is ad hoc experimentation and old fashioned good luck.

Pragmatism, adaptive management and clever exploitation of luck define China’s road to success rather than strict adherence to an ideologically-correct ‘model’ of development. The openness of China’s reformers to experimentation and to new ideas is what makes it uniquely exciting and rewarding to be working here!


His full argument (personal, not those of the UK government) is available here.

There are currently 7 Comments for China developed by luck, not planning.

Comments on China developed by luck, not planning

well duh.

But that's not really what he's saying is it?
All Horn says is that China doesn't use a very strict model (like the Washington consensus) for development, and therefore other developing countries can't seccessfuly copycut it's development model . Most Chinese leaders and economists say pretty much the same thing.

the author seems to suggest that the existence or effectiveness of the "China Development Model" is somehow undermined by the alleged fact that the course of development in China was not an object of conscious design.

one wonders whether that same fact--serendipity--makes wine less intoxicating, tea less savory, or the practice of sterilization in medicine less effective at fighting infection.

The author outline more the "trial-and-error" approach than anything else. It is one approach people can borrow if they so wish. However, this approach leads to "adhoc" policies, "special cases ad nauseum", and fractured policies. I have no doubt one day China will fix all of these, but probably after all other up-and-coming superpowers which implemented tried and true solutions.

china is only developed bcoz of it's good system & hard work of people

"china is only developed bcoz of it's good system & hard work of people "---FIZA

HAHAHA so funny. What? Hard work? Please stop talking hogwash.

I have nothing really to add to this since Rachel hit the nail on the head.

by chance? i dont think so.china grows simply its people r wise and hardworking.pls dont belittle chinese effort.they r examples for all underdeveloped world.i dont know why u westerlies r headached wz china`s gowth..every of ur publications about china is not balaned,and very much biased.

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