Peter Ho
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- July 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780199280698
- eISBN:
- 9780191602528
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019928069X.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
Studying institutional change regardless of whether it is focused on transitional or developing economies, may prove most fruitful when focused on its structuring of the means of production—land, ...
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Studying institutional change regardless of whether it is focused on transitional or developing economies, may prove most fruitful when focused on its structuring of the means of production—land, labour, and capital. This book does exactly that: it singles out land as an object of study and places it in the context of one of the world’s largest and most populous countries undergoing institutional reform, the People’s Republic of China. The book argues that private property protected by law, the principle of ‘getting-the-prices-right’, and the emergence of effectively functioning markets can not be imposed, but are the outcome of a society’s historical development and institutional fabric. In other words, the creation of institutions that are trusted and perceived as ‘credible’ in the eyes of social actors hinges in part on choice and timing in relation to the constellation of socio-economic and political parameters. It is demonstrated that disregarding these might result in the establishment of ‘empty institutions’ that have little effect on social actors’ actions, and can even cause rising inequality, bad land stewardship, and social conflict. The book concludes that the key to understanding China’s successes in rural reforms lies in the state’s hands-off approach and upholding an intentional institutional ambiguity that allowed for local, credible institutions to arise.Less
Studying institutional change regardless of whether it is focused on transitional or developing economies, may prove most fruitful when focused on its structuring of the means of production—land, labour, and capital. This book does exactly that: it singles out land as an object of study and places it in the context of one of the world’s largest and most populous countries undergoing institutional reform, the People’s Republic of China. The book argues that private property protected by law, the principle of ‘getting-the-prices-right’, and the emergence of effectively functioning markets can not be imposed, but are the outcome of a society’s historical development and institutional fabric. In other words, the creation of institutions that are trusted and perceived as ‘credible’ in the eyes of social actors hinges in part on choice and timing in relation to the constellation of socio-economic and political parameters. It is demonstrated that disregarding these might result in the establishment of ‘empty institutions’ that have little effect on social actors’ actions, and can even cause rising inequality, bad land stewardship, and social conflict. The book concludes that the key to understanding China’s successes in rural reforms lies in the state’s hands-off approach and upholding an intentional institutional ambiguity that allowed for local, credible institutions to arise.
Cinnamon Piñon Carlarne
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199553419
- eISBN:
- 9780191594984
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199553419.003.0006
- Subject:
- Law, Environmental and Energy Law, Private International Law
This chapter explores how three EU member states—Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland—reflect the challenges, progress, and setbacks that define the contours of European climate policy. It begins ...
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This chapter explores how three EU member states—Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland—reflect the challenges, progress, and setbacks that define the contours of European climate policy. It begins by exploring the roles of Germany and the UK as members of the EU-15 and nominal regional leaders in efforts to advance progressive climate policies. The analysis focuses first and foremost on Germany as the EU's most vocal and active proponent of aggressive climate policy. It then more briefly assesses the climate policy of the UK as a similarly important player in regional climate policy. In order to create a more inclusive picture of the challenges inherent in creating common climate policies for the full EU-27, this chapter also examines Poland's role in—and response to—efforts to create a common European rule of law with regard to climate change.Less
This chapter explores how three EU member states—Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland—reflect the challenges, progress, and setbacks that define the contours of European climate policy. It begins by exploring the roles of Germany and the UK as members of the EU-15 and nominal regional leaders in efforts to advance progressive climate policies. The analysis focuses first and foremost on Germany as the EU's most vocal and active proponent of aggressive climate policy. It then more briefly assesses the climate policy of the UK as a similarly important player in regional climate policy. In order to create a more inclusive picture of the challenges inherent in creating common climate policies for the full EU-27, this chapter also examines Poland's role in—and response to—efforts to create a common European rule of law with regard to climate change.
