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Journal of Political Economy Vol. 108 No. 1 2000

Reform without Losers: An Interpretation of China's Dual‐Track Approach to Transition

Lawrence J. Lau1; Yingyi Qian2; Gérard Roland3

1 Stanford University · 2 University of Maryland, College Park · 3 Université Libre de Bruxelles

Abstract

This paper develops a simple model to analyze the dual‐track approach to market liberalization as a mechanism for implementing efficient Pareto‐improving economic reform, that is, reform achieving efficiency without creating losers. The approach, based on the continued enforcement of the existing plan while simultaneously liberalizing the market, can be understood as a method for making implicit lump‐sum transfers to compensate potential losers of the reform. The model highlights the critical roles of enforcement of the plan for achieving Pareto improvement and full liberalization of the market track for achieving efficiency. We examine how the dual‐track approach has worked in product and labor market liberalization in China.

DOI
10.1086/262113
Volume
108
Issue
1
Pages
120-143
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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