The Bird and the Cage: China’s Economic Contradictions

by Nicholas Borst

The Chinese Communist Party’s complex and contradictory embrace of capitalism has played a pivotal role in shaping China’s economic reforms since the late 1970s. This book explores the persistent tensions between state control and market forces in China. It shows how these tensions provide a framework to understand Xi Jinping’s recent efforts to tighten control over the Chinese economy. The book evaluates the broader implications of these policies for China’s economic trajectory and its global trade relationships.

267 pages, Hardcover

Published March 29, 2025