Peter Nolan is Director of the China Centre, Jesus College; Founding Director, Centre of Development Studies; Chong Hua Professor in Chinese Development (Emeritus); Director of the China Executive Leadership Programme; and a Fellow of Jesus College, University of Cambridge. In 2009 he was awarded the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) 'for services supporting China's integration into the global economy'.

• Introduction -- Bukharinism and Stalinism: Contrasting Paths in the Political Economy of Development -- Theoretical Arguments concerning Collective Farms -- The Chinese Rural Economy under Mao -- The Post-1978 Reforms -- Performance of the Rural Sector since 1978 -- Problems -- Conclusion -- Statistical Appendix