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4 - Mao plus Deng

A Highly Aggressive and Productive Culture

from Part I - The Advantage of Low Human Rights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2022

Shaomin Li
Affiliation:
Old Dominion University, Virginia
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Summary

This chapter discusses how culture affects economic development. Based on historical, political, and economic reasons, China today has a strongly pro-economic growth culture. Historically, the Confucian culture of frugality, hard-working, and respecting the family is conducive to economic productivity. Politically, the authoritarian political system has shaped a population that is relatively more obedient and deferent to authority – traits that contribute to efficiency for low-skilled work such as manufactu¬ring. Economically, decades of poverty under Mao’s rule made people extremely motivated to work hard to make money. All these factors fueled China’s high economic growth. The chapter also draws attention to the fact that Mao had left an indelible imprint on today’s business leaders in China, a unique and important phenomenon that the international business community should be aware of. It also shows that a “Mao plus Deng” effect – Mao’s lawlessness and Deng’s call to get rich – is the root cause of property rights violations and especially the persistent problems of product safety and counterfeit goods in China.

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The Rise of China, Inc.
How the Chinese Communist Party Transformed China into a Giant Corporation
, pp. 93 - 126
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Mao plus Deng
  • Shaomin Li, Old Dominion University, Virginia
  • Book: The Rise of China, Inc.
  • Online publication: 06 January 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009076210.005
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  • Mao plus Deng
  • Shaomin Li, Old Dominion University, Virginia
  • Book: The Rise of China, Inc.
  • Online publication: 06 January 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009076210.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Mao plus Deng
  • Shaomin Li, Old Dominion University, Virginia
  • Book: The Rise of China, Inc.
  • Online publication: 06 January 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009076210.005
Available formats
×