This book examines questions of change and inertia in the context of the longstanding grievances over excessive taxation in rural China. How can some changes be sustained, whilst others cannot? How can a longstanding administrative practice be changed or even terminated, especially when previous...

1. Path creation? Processes and networks : how the Chinese rural tax reform began -- 2. Differentiated actors : central-local politics in reform evolution -- 3. Embedded institutionalization : sustaining reform effects -- 4. State and market in public service provision : opportunities and traps...