"This book is a timely study of a field that has yet to be closely examined despite great demand.

"This book is a timely study of a field that has yet to be closely examined despite great demand.

[…] the book is an extremely valuable source for academics, economists,government officials, professionals, businesspeople, and students. It covers unexplored territory and contains a number of facts and figures that make the subject more interesting and approachable. It will also appeal to researchers interested in human resource management as well as in the politics of contemporary China.

The book bridges the gaps present in the existing literature by providing new information and analysis of hurdles faced by China’s government, which is often associated with legality modification, income distribution, and central–local relations."

"[…] on the whole the book is well researched and well written. Statistical information is well used to provide an interesting analytical narrative. The book is aimed at scholars and students of political science, sociology and economics.

"[…] on the whole the book is well researched and well written. Statistical information is well used to provide an interesting analytical narrative. The book is aimed at scholars and students of political science, sociology and economics. Researchers and students interested in human resource management and public sector management may also find it a useful source of information."

"This book is the first English-language book analyzing civil-service pay in China, and contributes greatly to our understanding of how civil-service pay has changed over time."

"This book is the first English-language book analyzing civil-service pay in China, and contributes greatly to our understanding of how civil-service pay has changed over time."

"This book will be of interest for scholars studying civil-service pay, governance and anti-corruption in China. Moreover, practitioners and policymakers should consider the suggestions in thisbookfor future civil-service payreform."

"(…) on the whole the book is well researched and well written. Statistical information is well used to provide an interesting analytical narrative. The book is aimed at scholars and students of political science, sociology and economics.

"(…) on the whole the book is well researched and well written. Statistical information is well used to provide an interesting analytical narrative. The book is aimed at scholars and students of political science, sociology and economics. Researchers and students interested in human resource management and public sector management may also find it a useful source of information."

 This interesting book focuses on a greatly under-explored topic of how the Chinese central government governs civil service pay.

 This interesting book focuses on a greatly under-explored topic of how the Chinese central government governs civil service pay. The author’s fundamental arguments are that although central government has tried four waves of civil service pay reform since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, China still has not found a strong solution to align cadres’ motives to better public services and curb over-corruption within the complexities of central-local relations. …

The major contribution of Wu’s work is to enrich governance theory with experience from China and to deepen our understanding of endogenous tensions within China’s public administration system. It is more about theoretical application than theoretical innovation, and it displays a rich collection of empirical evidence and statistical data to support its theoretical arguments.

While there are an increasing number of studies on the Chinese civil service system, important aspects of this system have not yet been subject to close investigation. This includes civil servants’ salaries and non-monetary compensation. Alfred Wu remedies this lacuna by providing an overview of civil service pay in the People’s Republic of China past and present.

While there are an increasing number of studies on the Chinese civil service system, important aspects of this system have not yet been subject to close investigation. This includes civil servants’ salaries and non-monetary compensation. Alfred Wu remedies this lacuna by providing an overview of civil service pay in the People’s Republic of China past and present. … I do not hesitate to recommend Alfred Wu’s much needed study. The book contains a wealth of factual information on the various civil service pay regimes in China and is very useful for anyone interested in how the civil servants, the backbone of Chinese government, are managed and remunerated.

Civil service pay is not only a public economics topic related to public personnel and financial management, but also a controversial, highly sensitive subject deserving public debate. China is no exception. The academics (in China) have not accorded enough attention to this important public administration topic. … Wu’s book appears to fill in the gap.

Civil service pay is not only a public economics topic related to public personnel and financial management, but also a controversial, highly sensitive subject deserving public debate. China is no exception. The academics (in China) have not accorded enough attention to this important public administration topic. … Wu’s book appears to fill in the gap.

(Translated from the Chinese)

Wu’s research not only explores human resources management in the Chinese government, but also the politics of contemporary China. … this should be an interesting book for scholars working on public administration in China because civil service pay is a neglected subject area and the author’s fieldwork offers valuable data.

Wu’s research not only explores human resources management in the Chinese government, but also the politics of contemporary China. … this should be an interesting book for scholars working on public administration in China because civil service pay is a neglected subject area and the author’s fieldwork offers valuable data.

"I do not hesitate to recommend Alfred Wu’s much needed study. The book contains a wealth of factual information on the various civil service pay regimes in China and is very useful for anyone interested in how the civil servants, the backbone of Chinese government, are managed and remunerated."

"I do not hesitate to recommend Alfred Wu’s much needed study. The book contains a wealth of factual information on the various civil service pay regimes in China and is very useful for anyone interested in how the civil servants, the backbone of Chinese government, are managed and remunerated."

"Civil service pay is not only a public economics topic related to public personnel and financial management, but also a controversial, highly sensitive subject deserving public debate. China is no exception. The academics (in China) have not accorded enough attention to this important public administration topic (…) Wu’s book appears to fill in the gap"

"Civil service pay is not only a public economics topic related to public personnel and financial management, but also a controversial, highly sensitive subject deserving public debate. China is no exception. The academics (in China) have not accorded enough attention to this important public administration topic (…) Wu’s book appears to fill in the gap"

"Wu’s research not only explores human resources management in the Chinese government, but also the politics of contemporary China…. this should be an interesting book for scholars working on public administration in China because civil service pay is a neglected subject area and the author’s fieldwork offers valuable data"

"Wu’s research not only explores human resources management in the Chinese government, but also the politics of contemporary China…. this should be an interesting book for scholars working on public administration in China because civil service pay is a neglected subject area and the author’s fieldwork offers valuable data"