How China built the bureaucracy it needed to crackdown on tech giants.
Illustration by Luis Grañena
In the early 1980s, when Chinese leaders debated how to reform and open up China’s economy, Chen Yun advocated for a ‘birdcage economy.’ In his analogy, the bird was China’s economy, ready to take flight, while the cage referred to the state’s planning and control, which would prevent the bird from flying away.
Before the mid-2000s, most discussions on the birdcage economy in Chinese officialdom did not distinguish between different kinds of birds. But as the Chinese state endeavore
Exclusive longform investigative journalism, Q&As, news and analysis, and data on Chinese business elites and corporations. We publish China scoops you won't find anywhere else.
A weekly curated reading list on China from Andrew Peaple.
A daily roundup of China finance, business and economics headlines.
We offer discounts for groups, institutions and students. Go to our Subscriptions page for details.
The former Biden official and China scholar makes the case for the previous administration's approach and discusses why Beijing is content to watch the U.S. now dismantle its sources of strength
Navigate China's Business Landscape with Confidence.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OKPrivacy policy