ABSTRACT
Zhao Ziyang's summarized what he had seen and heard and he proposed the entire country had three types of areas with different levels of economic development different forms of responsibility systems could be carried out: good areas where the collective economy is comparatively consolidated and backward areas with difficulties could engage in baochan daohu and baogan daohu. In policy terms, the flexible attitude that had marked Hua Guofeng leadership of rural affairs developed substantially as he faded into the background, notably with the view of backward areas where baochan daohu could be tolerated expanding from very marginal places to encompass arguably one-third of the countryside. During the decollectivization process it was the slowest to adopt household farming and a bewildering array of responsibility systems created uncertainty among both officials and peasants. Zhao listened to local officials and engaged in discussions with peasants. During his investigations Zhao found household contracting working very well in the poor areas that he visited.
