ABSTRACT
The nature of industry policy as it is practised in China is first described in a regional and development context. To understand how these industry policies operate, a detailed critique of the most important industry policy/development program the Straw for Beef program follows. This chapter demonstrates the organisational capacity of the State, especially the congruence of interests between the centre and localities and their ability to organise other interest groups at local levels. It focuses on the Straw for Beef program and highlights the different phases and aspects of beef industry policy as the government seeks to guide the industry through to a more mature phase. A primary aim of the Straw for Beef program is to "save" grain. Indeed, the Straw for Beef program could be argued to have gained crucial support from the State Council based on a good "marketing effort" focused on strategic benefits, and on scientific and economic information from parties with vested interests.
