Southern China: Industry, Development and Industrial Policy

This book offers an updated analysis of the last three decades of development in the southern Guangdong Province, one of the main engines of the Chinese Economy. The authors shed light on the industrial development policies promoted by governments at different levels. It offers a detailed analysis of provincial policies, from the "Special Economic Zones" programme to more recent interventions to rebalance the industrial development growth across territories. It highlights the coordination of provincial policies with the national long-term strategic guidelines. It goes into the details of the specific measures promoted at the local level to foster industrial development providing a unique body of knowledge on the programs that are in charge of pushing industrial specialisation, innovation and technological upgrading at the single township level. The book is the result of a long ongoing process of fieldworks and deep investigations that the authors have promoted in Southern China for many years and it is supported by a wide set of sources and references. First of all, what the Chinese academic literature and the specialised international debate has produced on this specific experience of industrial development. Secondly, government reports and official document elaborated by Chinese institutions. Finally, what emerges from the analysis of these sources is discussed in the framework of the industrial development and industrial policy international debate.