Following the road of an autarkic and egalitarian socialism for several decades, China has implemented economic reform and open-door policies since the late 1970s. This monograph sets out to analyse and compare the Chinese economy between the pre- and post-reform periods, providing insights into national and regional economic trends. The book is importantly focuses on regional comparisons and differences within China.

Based on different kinds of regionalization on the Chinese economy, the author analyses the uneven distribution of natural and human resources and probes into the evolution of economic systems and policies from which differing regional economic performances have resulted accordingly.