Book
This book offers policymakers a better understanding of institutional change in dynamic economic contexts, helping them enhance economic performance.
Since the 1990s, neo-institutionalists have posited that “institutions matter”. However, they overlook one important issue: the ways institutions change also matters. Numerous academic studies have identified “good” and “bad” institutions, but little has been written about effective methods of transforming “bad” institutions so that they enhance economic performance. To fill this gap, this book reframes the approach of neo-institutional economics to analyze institutions’ role and evolution, focusing on the interaction between the household registration (hukou) system evolution and economic transformation.
The authors apply an endogenous and dynamic perspective. First, the theory of endogenous institutional change illustrates how the drivers of hukou system evolution differ in the pre-reform and reform eras. Second, the theory of adaptive efficiency evaluates the evolution of the system’s institutional efficiency. Finally, the authors were able to test the impact of the hukou reform on urban economic growth by examining local experimentation, helping explain the current “stickiness” of the system.
At the heart of hukou reform lies the question of how to deal with the link between hukou and welfare provision. This book will offer policymakers a better understanding of institutional change in dynamic economic contexts, helping them enhance economic performance.
Media Release
The Rajawali Foundation at Harvard Kennedy School released, “China’s Most Generous – Examining Trends in Contemporary Chinese Philanthropy”, which provides insights into current trends among China’s major donors and recipients.
Video
Anthony Saich, the director of the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia and Daewoo Professor of International Affairs recently spoke at the China Centre, University of Sydney about President Donald J. Trump and his relationship with China.
This talk, entitled “An Unpredictable President and U.S. China Relations”, provides an initial analysis of how a second Trump administration could influence US-China relations forecasting his approach, and figuring out whether he will adopt the role of a deal-maker or take a more combative stance aimed at undermining rivals.
Saich focuses on three key areas of concern: tariffs, Taiwan, and technology controls.
Media Release
The Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia at the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University and the East Asian Institute (EAI) at the National University of Singapore, are delighted to announce a new academic collaboration.
Case Study
In a new study for the Middle Powers Project, C. Raja Mohan assesses how India’s national ascent towards global influence faces developmental constraints and maintains that the country must balance ties with China and the United States to harness its economic potential and situate itself as a leader in the Global South. The Middle Powers Project is in collaboration with the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
Case Study
In a new study for the Middle Powers Project, Oliver Stuenkel explains how Brazil’s self-perception as a “giant by nature” advances its foreign policy with roots in multi‑alignment. As Brazil strives to balance relationships with both China and the United States and solidify its roles in BRICS and the G20, the country’s autonomy is pressured by great-power rivalry and its regional influence remains limited. The Middle Powers Project is in collaboration with the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
Video
Tony Saich, Director of the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia, gives an expert interview for the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University on understanding China’s political governance.
