China's Gilded Age

China's Gilded Age examines the relationship between corruption and economic growth in modern China. The book draws parallels between China's development and America's Gilded Age of the late 19th century, analyzing how both periods featured rapid industrialization alongside widespread political corruption. Through case studies and data analysis, Ang introduces a new framework for understanding different types of corruption and their varying economic impacts. She focuses on the distinction between petty theft by lower-level officials and access money exchanged between business elites and political power-brokers. The narrative moves between national trends and local examples, tracking how China's bureaucratic incentive structures and promotion systems have shaped patterns of corruption across regions. The research spans multiple decades of China's reform era and incorporates both qualitative and quantitative evidence. This work challenges conventional wisdom about corruption's role in development and raises questions about the sustainability of growth built on clientelistic networks. The analysis contributes to broader debates about state-market relationships and the varied paths to modernization.

Readers appreciate Ang's detailed analysis of corruption in China and the parallels drawn with America's Gilded Age. Many note the book provides a nuanced view beyond simple "corruption is bad" narratives, with one reviewer highlighting how it "challenges conventional wisdom about the relationship between corruption and economic growth." Readers value the four-part typology of corruption and clear examples from both historical periods. Multiple reviews mention the strong empirical evidence and data visualizations. Common criticisms include: - Dense academic writing style - Too much focus on methodology - Limited discussion of solutions or policy recommendations - Some repetition of key points Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (47 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (41 ratings) Several academic reviewers note the book is more suited for researchers and policy professionals than general readers. One Amazon reviewer states: "Important ideas but could have been conveyed more concisely."

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🔸 Author Yuen Yuen Ang coined the term "Access Money" to describe China's unique form of corruption, where bribes are exchanged for profitable opportunities rather than outright theft of public funds. 🔸 The book challenges the conventional wisdom that corruption always hurts economic growth by showing how China achieved remarkable development despite (and partially through) widespread corruption. 🔸 Research for the book included analysis of over 50 million resumes of Chinese Communist Party officials to understand promotion patterns and corruption networks. 🔸 China's corruption model parallels America's Gilded Age (1877-1893), when rapid industrialization coincided with widespread political corruption and the rise of "robber barons." 🔸 Yuen Yuen Ang developed a "Unbundling Corruption Index" that differentiates between four types of corruption: petty theft, grand theft, speed money, and access money.