 Scientific Foundations and Methods of Research on Chinese EconomyYanan Wang ()
Chapter Chapter 3 in The Basic Theory of Chinese Economy, 2026, pp 13-21 from Springer Abstract: Abstract The foregoing discussion may be taken as a preliminary account of the scientific foundations for research on the Chinese economy; yet to study it seriously, we must proceed beyond such obvious statements. In this chapter I first clarify three bodies of knowledge that must be grasped: economics, economic history, and Chinese economic history. I argue that capitalist economics can illuminate China only in a limited sense and that what China most needs is a critical and historically minded economics, rather than an ahistorical “popular” economics. I then propose three methods implied by these foundations: comparative research, comprehensive research, and progressive research. Comparison is necessary because we still lack categories adequate to define China in its own terms; comprehensiveness is required to avoid empty abstractions about “the whole”; and progressiveness is indispensable for a transitional society in which feudal and capitalist elements coexist, constrain, and transform one another. Only by combining these methods can research approach the true nature and movement of China’s economy. Date: 2026 There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it. Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-95-6330-2_3 Ordering information: This item can be ordered from DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-6330-2_3 Access Statistics for this chapter More chapters in Springer Books from Springer |
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