ABSTRACT
This chapter displays the economic development of Wenzhou as a regional case to observe China’s development of the private manufacturing sector. Wenzhou is often regarded as the birthplace of China’s private economy since China’s economic reform in 1978. Its economic fortunes have always been closely related to the fortune of the nation. The chapter firstly discusses Wenzhou’s long-standing tradition in developing a private economy, which reveals the origin and internal forces of Wenzhou’s modern economy. Secondly, it shows Wenzhou’s pioneer role in advancing China’s economic reform after 1978, to verify the importance of Wenzhou in China’s economic development course. Thirdly, it reveals Wenzhou’s current economic predicaments and shows its relevance to China’s private manufacturing economy.
