ABSTRACT
Many have written on the evolution of China’s economic policies since the PRC was established in 1949. Most of my comments in this chapter will be “old hat” to those who are familiar with the story. At the risk of revealing my own ignorance, I summarize below what puzzled and surprised me most when I studied it. Some of the puzzles have a plausible answer; others remain puzzles, at least for me.
Puzzle 1. Why did Mao unexpectedly “propose” on 24 September 1952 that the transition to socialism should start immediately and be accelerated?
