Politicizing Business

The Chinese Communist Party has always been ambivalent about how to treat the private sector of the economy. Professor Leng's superb study provides us with a nuanced view of this complicated relationship. Using detailed case studies (the urban bus sector and waste management) she demonstrates convincingly how the authoritarian political economy leads to the politicization of business. Businesses are seen as providing career support to individual officials through visibility projects and providing systemic support aiding social control. Far from outcomes being solely attributable to Xi Jinping's or any central leader's approach, she demonstrates how government-business relations are driven by the incentive system under which local officials operate. The book is a must-read, not only for those interested in government-business relations but also for those who seek a deeper, more nuanced understanding of China's political economy.