A note on the choice of technology in China

Abstract

This paper attempts to uncover what seem to be the principal problems pertaining to the choice of technology and technique which the Chinese planners have faced in each of several phases since the inception of the Chinese People's Republic, and examines the way in which the Chinese have apparently attempted to solve these problems. Although some attempt is made to evaluate the main findings, lack of information still prevents a detailed . evaluation of the specifics of the Chinese choice of technology and technique, and of its relevance elsewhere, and attention is mainly concentrated here on the broad nature of the problems.

Notes

Director of the Institute of Economic Research at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo. This paper is a revised version of the one presented at the Workshop on Science and Technology in China's Development held at Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex on January 10–14,1972. The writer wishes to thank Professor C. Freeman and Dr C. H. G. Oldham of the Unit for inviting turn to the Workshop. He is also grateful to Charles Cooper, C. Freeman, Yukihiko Kiyokawa, Tsuneo Ishikawa and Ignancy Sachs for valuable comments.