ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the record of China's collective farms under Mao, from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. It argues that in this period the Chinese rural economy performed only moderately in terms of its pace of growth of output, of factor productivity and farm income. Instead of consolidating the collectives established in 1955—6, Mao, in the teeth of much high level opposition, led the movement to establish large 'rural people's communes' in 1958—9. The collectivization of agriculture in China in 1955/56 was not spontaneous. What the Chinese Communists did in 1958 had not only destroyed most of the flood-control facilities but also had made the areas previously flood-free vulnerable to heavy rainfall'. In China in the sixties and seventies, even the smallest unit of collective ownership and work organisation — the production team — contained, on average, 40—60 workers. China's collective farms were extremely 'successful' at mobilizing 'surplus' labour both in the 1950s and in the 1960s and 1970s.
