This study focuses on the China's leadership's attempt to improve economic efficiency by decentralizing economic management.

List of tables; Preface; 1. Economic growth and equity in a dualistic economy; 2. Centralization of economic and financial planning, 1949-1957; 3. The 1958 decentralization; 4. Economic planning since the First Five-Year Plan; 5. China's distributive policies in comparative perspective; Appendices; Notes; References; Index.