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China's Agricultural Crisis and Famine of 1959–1961: A Survey and Comparison to Soviet Famines

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Author Info
Dennis Tao Yang () ([1] Department of Economics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.)

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Abstract

China's Great Leap Forward (GLF) of 1958–1961 ended as a catastrophe as widespread famine claimed millions of human lives. This paper reviews the literature on this historical crisis. The collapse of grain production was primarily attributable to failures in central planning that diverted agricultural resources to industry and to malnutrition among peasants, which lowered their productivity. The resulting decline in grain availability and the urban bias in China's food distribution system were the main causes of the famine. This paper also compares China's experience with the Soviet famines of 1931–1933 and 1947. Comparative Economic Studies (2008) 50, 1–29. doi:10.1057/ces.2008.4

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Article provided by Palgrave Macmillan Journals in its journal Comparative Economic Studies.

Volume (Year): 50 (2008)
Issue (Month): 1 (March)
Pages: 1-29
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Handle: RePEc:pal:compes:v:50:y:2008:i:1:p:1-29

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  1. Martin Ravallion, 1997. "Famines and Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 35(3), pages 1205-1242, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  2. Lin, Justin Yifu & Yang, Dennis Tao, 1998. "On the causes of China's agricultural crisis and the great leap famine," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 125-140. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Cormac Ó Gráda, 2007. "Making Famine History," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 45(1), pages 5-38, March.
  4. Gale Johnson, D., 1998. "China's great famine: Introductory remarks," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 103-109. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Wei Li and Dennis Tao Yang, 2005. "The Great Leap Forward: Anatomy of a Central Planning Disaster," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 113(4), pages 840-877, August.
  6. Sen, Amartya, 1983. "Development: Which Way Now?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 93(372), pages 742-62, December.
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This page was last updated on 2008-8-10.

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