POSTREFORM INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTIVITY PERFORMANCE OF CHINA - NEW EVIDENCE FROM THE 1985 INDUSTRIAL CENSUS-DATA

Beginning in the late 1970s, a series of reforms to improve industrial productivity were implemented in China. We estimate changes in productivity growth and identify its sources in the post-reform period 1980-85. Our work is based on the newest and most comprehensive data set available on Chinese industrial activities. Productivity growth estimates are shown to be strongly affected by output specification. Overall we find sharp increases in productivity growth in the 1984-85 period as compared to the 1980-84 period. Collective and private enterprises show higher output and productivity gains than do state-owned enterprises.