Changing the Economic Development Model

Abstract

What does it mean to shift from extensive economic growth to intensive growth? Intensive growth tends to be defined consistently by Chinese scholars as growth based on improving economic profitability, while the concept of extensive growth invites differing interpretations. One definition, drawing a line between speed and profitability, confines extensive growth to a mere pursuit of speed, while another, making a distinction between input and profitability, casts it as growth based on incremental input. Still another sets scale against profitability, thus basing the measure of (extended) growth on an expansion of scale. From these various definitions we can see that disagreement exists concerning basic implications of intensive growth. Moreover, simple contrasts between speed, input, or scale and profitability fail to do the concept justice. To tackle this ambiguity, it is necessary to examine the basic implications of intensive growth in reference to theories and practices of economic progress at home and abroad, with special attention to the new meaning that modern growth theories have placed on the prevailing growth paradigms.