This book offers the first comprehensive study of the money, banking, and financial markets in China since the establishment of the central bank system in 1984. The author analyzes the impact of the profound institutional changes of the 1980s and the early 1990s and highlights the fundamental transformation of the role of money - from a passive accounting tool in the centrally planned system to an active and intrinsically important factor in determining the growth and stability of the present economy.

The theoretical and empirical analyses of the book are based on the newly established financial system and the most recent data available. The transitive nature of the financial sector during economic reform is especially emphasized.

The author's central arguments are supported by in-depth analyses of every important aspect of the financial sector, including the function of the central bank and its relationship with specialized banks and other financial institutions, money supply and demand, monetization, price reforms and inflation, nonbank financial institutions, and new developments in the financial security markets. Extensive use is made of case studies and illustrative examples.

A complete set of data from all empirical studies is provided to allow readers to examine the models and confirm the econometric results.