Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Pandgt;Chinese production of automobiles rose from 42,000 cars per year in 1990 to 2.3 million in 2004; the number of passenger vehicles on the road doubled every two and a half years through the 1990s and continues to grow. In China Shifts Gears, Kelly Sims Gallagher identifies an unprecedented opportunity for China to "shift gears" and avoid the usual problems associated with the automobile industry--including urban air pollution caused by tailpipe emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, and high dependence on oil imports--while spurring economic development. This transformation will only take place if the Chinese government plays a leadership role in building domestic technological capacity and pushing foreign automakers to transfer cleaner and more energy-efficient technologies to China. If every new car sold in China had the cleanest and most energy-efficient of the automotive technologies already available, urban air pollution could be minimized, emissions of climate-altering greenhouse gases would be lower than projected, and the Chinese auto industry would continue to flourish and contribute to China's steady economic development. But so far, Gallagher finds, the opportunity to shift gears has been missed.Gallagher looks in detail at three U.S.-Chinese joint ventures: Beijing Jeep, Shanghai GM, and Chang'An Ford. These case studies are based on original research, including interviews with 90 government officials, industry representatives, and experts in both countries. Drawing from the case studies, Gallagher explores the larger issues of the environmental and economic effects of technology transfer in the automobile industry and the policy implications of "leapfrogging" to more advanced technology.andlt;/Pandgt;
Review
I am very impressed with this book. Gallagher addresses the extremely important question of whether foreign direct investment can be an effective vehicle for transfer of clean energy, in particular in the automotive sector. The question has enormous implications not only for China (air pollution, cancer rates) but for the world (oil prices, climate change). The importance of this book is therefore very great. Xue Lan, Director, China Institute of Science and Technology Policy, Tsinghua University, Beijing
Review
This is an extremely important and timely book. Gallagher's account of the three major China-U.S. joint ventures will not only shed light on the current debate in China about foreign direct investment and indigenous technological capabilities; it will also contribute to effective public policies to address the monumental challenges of pollution and oil consumption presented by the tremendous growth of the Chinese auto market. I enjoyed it thoroughly! Calestous Juma, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Review
China Shifts Gears is an excellent roadmap for those seeking to analyze the complexities of China's economic performance. It critically explores new avenues for understanding the dynamics of technological innovation in emerging countries. An inspirational resource for policy makers, scholars, and international policy students. The MIT Press
Review
"This book is a rare flash of intellectual creativity and an important contribution to the study of global transformation. An excellent handbook for those bewildered by the intricacies of social change."--Calestous Juma, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Review
"China Shifts Gears is an excellent roadmap for those seeking to analyze the complexities of China"s economic performance. It critically explores new avenues for understanding the dynamics of technological innovation in emerging countries. An inspirational resource for policy makers, scholars, and international policy students." Calestous Juma, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"China Shifts Gears is an excellent roadmap for those seeking to analyze the complexities of China"s economic performance. It critically explores new avenues for understanding the dynamics of technological innovation in emerging countries. An inspirational resource for policy makers, scholars, and international policy students." Calestous Juma, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Universityandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"This is an extremely important and timely book. Gallagher's account of the three major China-U.S. joint ventures will not only shed light on the current debate in China about foreign direct investment and indigenous technological capabilities; it will also contribute to effective public policies to address the monumental challenges of pollution and oil consumption presented by the tremendous growth of the Chinese auto market. I enjoyed it thoroughly!" andlt;Bandgt;Xue Lan andlt;/Bandgt;, Director, China Institute of Science and Technology Policy, Tsinghua University, Beijing andlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
The MIT Press
Synopsis
Chinese production of automobiles rose from 42,000 cars per year in 1990 to 2.3 million in 2004; the number of passenger vehicles on the road doubled every two and a half years through the 1990s and continues to grow. In China Shifts Gears, Kelly Sims Gallagher identifies an unprecedented opportunity for China to "shift gears" and avoid the usual problems associated with the automobile industry--including urban air pollution caused by tailpipe emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, and high dependence on oil imports--while spurring economic development. This transformation will only take place if the Chinese government plays a leadership role in building domestic technological capacity and pushing foreign automakers to transfer cleaner and more energy-efficient technologies to China. If every new car sold in China had the cleanest and most energy-efficient of the automotive technologies already available, urban air pollution could be minimized, emissions of climate-altering greenhouse gases would be lower than projected, and the Chinese auto industry would continue to flourish and contribute to China's steady economic development. But so far, Gallagher finds, the opportunity to shift gears has been missed.Gallagher looks in detail at three U.S.-Chinese joint ventures: Beijing Jeep, Shanghai GM, and Chang'An Ford. These case studies are based on original research, including interviews with 90 government officials, industry representatives, and experts in both countries. Drawing from the case studies, Gallagher explores the larger issues of the environmental and economic effects of technology transfer in the automobile industry and the policy implications of "leapfrogging" to more advanced technology.
Synopsis
Analyzes how the transfer of advanced automobile technology from U.S. firms affects the environment and economic development in China; with detailed case studies of Chinese joint ventures with Jeep, GM, and Ford.
Synopsis
Chinese production of automobiles rose from 42,000 cars per year in 1990 to 2.3 million in 2004; the number of passenger vehicles on the road doubled every two and a half years through the 1990s and continues to grow. In
About the Author
Vera Hassner Sharav is founding president of The Alliance for Human Research Protection (www.ahrp.org). In 1994, she edited a compendium of 30 articles that opened a national debate: "Ethics in Neurobiological Research With Human Subjects" in the Journal of the California Alliance for the Mentally Ill. She is the author of "The Ethics of Conducting Psychosis-Inducing Experiments," in Accountability in Research, 1999; "The Impact of FDAMA on the Recruitment of Children in Research", in Ethical Human Sciences and Services(in press).