Includes bibliographical references and index.

ch 1. Introduction -- ch 2. Thirty years of rural reform and policy evolution -- ch 3. The household responsibility system and the rapid growth of agriculture -- ch 4. Development and reform of agricultural science and technology -- ch 5. Agricultural market-oriented reform and trade liberalization -- ch 6. Market-oriented reform of agricultural inputs and the investment in agriculture -- ch 7. Industrialization of rural areas and farmers' involvement in nonagricultural employment -- ch 8. China's urbanization : reform, experience, and challenges -- ch 9. Farmers' tax burden : evolution history, institutional basis, and the effect of rural tax reform -- ch 10. Democratic development at the grassroots level : electoral quality participation and villagers' self-governance -- ch 11. Farmers' organizations in China : development and status quo.

Identifies the determinants of success in China's agricultural and rural economy and describes future challenges in its modernization. Covers topics such as China's agricultural and rural development, farmers' income growth, institutional changes, and the progress of agricultural science and technology.