体制成本与中国经济

System Cost and China's Economic Growth

本文以体制成本为核心概念展开分析。体制是成体系的制度安排。举凡体制确立、运行和改变所耗费的资源,即为体制成本。中国经济在1978—2008年间高速增长,得益于改革开放降低原先高居不下的体制成本,从而在全球化中发挥出比较优势。这是中国经验的根本。但在增长过程中,中国的税费和其他法定缴纳、寻租以及贪腐和奢靡开销过快提升,导致中国在应对全球竞争格局新变化时承受了新的压力。中国需要通过结构性改革大幅度降低体制成本,以实现持续增长。

This paper aims to analyze China＇s economic growth through the concept of system cost, which is the cost associated with the establishment, running, and change of institutions. From 1978 to 2008, a significant reduction of system cost driven by reforms and opening up had helped China achieve an average 10% annual real GDP growth. However, China＇s system cost has risen again over the past decade, evident by its higher than GDP growth in taxes and fees, rent seeking, corruption and extravagant spendings in the public sector. China needs a series of structural reforms that can again significantly reduce its system cost.