ABSTRACT
A systematic analysis of Chinese political elites in general and provincial leaders in particular is long overdue. It is widely noted that starting from the late 1970s, the central authorities in China have delegated a series of substantial economic and administrative powers to local governments. A critical difference between a unitary political system and a federal one lies in the ability of the central government to manage local leaders. The central government in a unitary state is able to appoint and transfer local leaders, while the federal government in a federal system has no power over the appointment of local leaders. China studies scholars claim that localism is on the rise because of decentralization. In recent literature on China's political elites, educational backgrounds have become a focus. Provincial leaders with better economic growth or revenue contribution records during their tenure are less likely to be demoted, and they are also less likely to be retired.
