Chris Rowley

The View | ‘China model’ is only the latest in a long line of touted economic models – and it won’t be the last

Chris Rowley says debate on whether the Chinese development model can and should be replicated is not new. Successful economic models, be it a company’s or country’s, have all been recommended as the system to beat in their heyday

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Visitors take a selfie at an exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, at the National Museum of China in Beijing, on December 18. Photo: Xinhua

Chris Rowley

Published: 10:45am, 28 Dec 2018Updated: 10:42pm, 28 Dec 2018

China’s growth and inexorable rise to become one of the world’s top two global economic powers is now apparent to all. Some of the results of this rise are well known. They include the vast numbers of people lifted out of poverty, the spread of social security and health care, and the expansion of China’s economic and political reach.

China’s economic rise has gone hand in hand with a variety of proclamations from the state. These range from the earlier neo-Confucianist “harmonious society” to its replacement, President Xi Jinping’s “Chinese dream”. They portray China as a leader in a globalised and seemingly more peaceful world order.

Given these developments and political assertions, it is interesting to look at the debate on the “China model” of economic development, one that is not just unique and based on particular characteristics, but also somehow transferable to other countries. Indeed, this was the topic of a university debate at the Oxford Union recently.

We can question the view of there being a globally transferable and applicable “China model” on several levels.

First, what is it? Not only are the operational elements of this model ill-defined and opaquely measured, but are any of them necessary and sufficient?