The Beijing Consensus and Possible Lessons from the 'Singapore Model'?
Cambridge University Press, Dr CHEN Weitseng of the NUS law school (editor), Forthcoming
NUS - Centre for Asian Legal Studies Working Paper No. 16/01
23 Pages Posted: 12 Jan 2016 Last revised: 16 Jul 2016
Date Written: January 11, 2016
Abstract
This paper suggests that there is very little substance to the so-called Beijing Consensus. Instead, China's political system is simply the consequence of the communist triumph over the Kuomintang, and her economic approach the reversal of the disastrous policies of the Mao period coupled with lessons learnt from the economic development of other Asian economies including Singapore. As Singapore is often touted as a model for China, this paper sets out an important but often underappreciated element that underpins Singapore's success, namely its democratic system of government. It suggests that this may be the most important lesson that China can learn from Singapore.
Keywords: Washington Consensus, Beijing Consensus, Singapore, economic development, democracy, corruption, state-owned enterprises, political liberalization
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