Regional Development in China: Transitional Institutions, Embedded Globalization, and Hybrid Economies

Abstract

This paper by a recognized specialist reviews the substantial recent literature on regional development in China, emphasizing studies of regional inequality and local development. It attempts to critically assess progress and changes in the structure of such research, highlighting the important role of institutions and geography, as well as emerging theoretical notions of transitional institutions, embedded globalization, and hybrid economies. The paper identifies intriguing and important questions that remain understudied, and highlights concepts deserving further development. In so doing, it raises questions relating to future research and explores avenues for moving the field forward.

Keywords: regional inequality, transitional institution, hybrid economies, globalization, China

JEL Classification: O10, O15, O18