Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on a different issue or dimension that helps to illuminate the interplay between central and local levels of government. It explores China's central-local relations through the lens of fiscal policy and revenue sharing. The book analyzes the balance of power by dividing power into two separate aspects: administrative supervision authority and political control. It reviews the formulation of China's overall regional development strategy, the planning of functional zones, and several other aspects of China's multi-dimensional regional policy. The book also focuses on China's administrative hierarchy, and how conflicts between central and local governments have centered on changes in administrative levels that transfer power from the center to the most obscure urban neighborhood or remote rural village. It examines the tugs of war between central and local governments that are seen in policy implementation.