Yeling Tan, Disaggregating China, Inc.: State Strategies in the Liberal Economic Order

Yeling Tan's 'Disaggregating China, Inc.' offers a comprehensive examination of China's diverse responses to World Trade Organization (WTO) integration, challenging conventional wisdom about the country's economic strategies. The book argues that China's political structure, characterized by disaggregation, leads to varied responses from different levels of administration. Tan introduces three policy approaches—directive, developmental, and regulatory—that officials employ based on their incentives and prospects for advancement. The empirical research, supported by extensive documentation and interviews, reveals that while the central government favors regulatory responses, subnational levels use developmental policies to promote exports or protect against dislocation. The second half of the book explores China's shift toward a dirigiste economic system, demonstrating that local authorities continue to act strategically, even as the central government re-emphasizes industrial policy. Tan's analysis sheds light on the complex dynamics underlying China's global economic strategies, providing valuable insights into the politics and incentives that shape its foreign policy outputs.