A Large-Scale Economic Investigation in the Early Period of Reform and Opening Up

I.

一、

Shortly after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, the Party Central Committee decided on March 14, 1979 to establish a Finance and Economics Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "FEC") under the State Council, as a decision-making body for studying the policies, guidelines, and major matters of financial and economic work. The FEC had Chen Yun as its director, Li Xiannian as its deputy director, and Yao Yilin as its secretary-general. On July 1, the Ninth Session of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress approved this decision.

党的十一届三中全会后不久，中共中央于1979年3月14日决定，在国务院设立财政经济委员会（以下简称“财经委”），作为研究财经工作方针政策和财经工作大事的决策机构。财经委以陈云为主任、李先念为副主任、姚依林为秘书长。7月1日，五届全国人大常委会第九次会议通过这一决定。

A major undertaking of the FEC after its establishment was to conduct in-depth investigation and research based on the urgent needs of economic adjustment and economic reform. On June 27, 1979, Yao Yilin presided over a symposium on economic theory and financial and economic policy research at the West Building of Zhongnanhai, attended by more than 30 people, including heads of relevant central economic departments and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. This was in fact a mobilization meeting to formally launch the investigation and research work. Prior to this, Yao Yilin had already presided over several small-scale symposiums to prepare for this meeting.

财经委成立后做的一件大事，就是根据经济调整和经济改革的迫切需要，进行深入的调查研究。1979年6月27日，姚依林在中南海西楼主持召开经济理论和财经政策研究工作座谈会，中央有关经济部门和中国社会科学院的负责人共30多人出席。这实际上是正式启动调查研究工作的动员大会。此前，姚依林已经主持召开过几次小规模的座谈会，为这次大会做准备。

Yao Yilin said: The Central Committee has proposed using three years to achieve the adjustment, reform, rectification, and improvement of the national economy, and to basically overcome the current serious situation of imbalance. What we need to consider now is to develop a general outline for economic reform through extensive and in-depth investigation, research, and pilot projects. Some comrades have suggested convening a meeting on economic theory work. Comrades Hu Yaobang, Hu Qiaomu, and Deng Liqun, together with us, have studied this and feel that if we hold such a meeting now, everyone still lacks sufficient materials, and the issues to be studied are also unclear. If we hold it now, it is very likely that we will not "work out" a plan that is truly feasible in practical work and on which everyone has relatively consistent understanding. Our opinion is to first carry out investigation, research, and pilot work, and to combine the work of theoretical comrades with that of practical comrades.

姚依林说，中央提出用三年时间搞好国民经济的调整、改革、整顿和提高，基本上克服目前存在的比例失调的严重情况。现在我们要考虑的，是通过广泛、深入的调查、研究和试点，对经济改革搞出一个大体的眉目来。有的同志提出，要开个经济理论工作务虚会。这个问题，胡耀邦同志、胡乔木同志、邓力群同志，我们一起研究过，觉得现在来开这个会，大家掌握的材料还不够，要研究的问题也不清楚，现在来开的话，很可能“务”不出一个真正在实际工作中可行的、大家认识比较一致的方案来。我们的意见是先进行调查研究和试点工作，而且要做理论工作和做实际工作的同志结合起来做。

Based on the opinions from the previous small-scale symposiums, Yao Yilin summarized this investigation and research into three major topics: the issue of the economic system; the issue of the economic structure; and the issue of combining the introduction of technology, equipment, and capital with the utilization and transformation of existing enterprises to first modernize a number of existing enterprises. Yao Yilin expressed some of his preliminary and principled ideas on the problems and improvement methods in these three areas, particularly emphasizing the need to break the ideological shackle that "means of production are not commodities"; and to pay attention to developing individual industrial and commercial businesses in order to broaden employment channels. In addition to these three topics, he also agreed with a suggestion made by Yu Guangyuan during the preparatory process, adding the study of economic theory and methods. Thus, there were four major research topics, and correspondingly four investigation and research groups were established. The heads of each group were respectively: the Economic System Group (hereinafter referred to as the "System Group") was headed by Zhang Jinfu (Minister of Finance) and Fang Weizhong (Deputy Director of the State Planning Commission), with Xue Muqiao (Advisor to the State Planning Commission and Director of the Institute of Economic Research of the State Planning Commission), Liao Jili (Member of the State Planning Commission), and Liu Mingfu (Director of the Institute of Finance and Trade of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) added after the meeting; the Economic Structure Group (hereinafter referred to as the "Structure Group") was headed by Ma Hong (Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Director of the Institute of Industrial Economics) and Sun Youyu (Vice Minister of the First Ministry of Machine Building); the Research Group on Combining the Introduction of Technology, Equipment, and Capital with the Utilization and Transformation of Existing Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as the "Introduction Group") was headed by Wang Daohan (Deputy Head of the State Council Leading Group for Import and Export, and from July 1979, Deputy Director of the State Import and Export Administration); the Economic Theory and Methods Research Group (hereinafter referred to as the "Theory Group") was headed by Yu Guangyuan (Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Director of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism). To meet the urgent needs of economic adjustment and economic reform, it was required that the first batch of research results be produced before the Spring Festival. Yao Yilin announced that the convening of future investigation and research work meetings would be the responsibility of Deng Liqun, Zhang Jinfu, and Ma Hong.

姚依林根据此前几次小规模座谈会的意见，把这次调查研究归纳为三个大的题目：关于经济体制问题；关于经济结构问题；关于引进技术、设备和资金，同利用、改造现有企业相结合，使一批现有企业首先现代化的问题。姚依林对这三个方面存在的问题和改进办法，说了自己一些初步的原则性的想法，特别强调要打破“生产资料不是商品”的思想框框；为了广开就业门路，要注意发展个体工商业。除这三个题目外，还同意于光远在筹备过程中提出的建议，增加经济理论与方法的研究。这样，就是四个大的研究题目，相应地成立四个调查研究组。各组的负责人分别是：经济体制组（以下简称“体制组”）负责人张劲夫（财政部部长）和房维中（国家计委副主任），会后又增加薛暮桥（国家计委顾问、国家计委经济研究所所长）、廖季立（国家计委委员）和刘明夫（中国社会科学院财贸研究所所长）；经济结构组（以下简称“结构组”）负责人马洪（中国社会科学院副院长兼工业经济研究所所长）和孙友余（一机部副部长）；引进技术、设备和资金，同利用、改造现有企业相结合问题的研究组（以下简称“引进组”）负责人汪道涵（国务院进出口领导小组副组长，1979年7月起任国家进出口管理委员会副主任）；经济理论与方法研究组（以下简称“理论组”）负责人于光远（中国社会科学院副院长兼马列研究所所长）。为了适应经济调整和经济改革的迫切需要，要求在春节以前拿出第一批研究成果。姚依林宣布：今后调查研究工作会议的召集，由邓力群、张劲夫和马洪负责。

The FEC was a decision-making body with no working office underneath it. Since Yao Yilin was Deputy Secretary-General of the Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the Central Committee, and also Secretary-General of the FEC; Deng Liqun was Deputy Director of the General Office of the Central Committee and Director of the Research Office of the General Office of the Central Committee (after the Fifth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee in February 1980 decided to re-establish the Central Secretariat, it was renamed the Research Office of the Central Secretariat), and also held the position of Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; and Ma Hong was Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also leading several economic research institutes of the Academy. This investigation and research was presided over by Yao Yilin, with the main organizational work handled by Deng Liqun and Ma Hong. The specific organizational coordination, comprehensive data compilation, and other secretarial work were undertaken by the Economic Group of the Research Office of the General Office of the Central Committee. The Economic Group of the Research Office of the General Office of the Central Committee also independently conducted some thematic research to the best of its ability. To promptly report to leading comrades of the Central Committee, relevant central departments, and leading comrades of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and to communicate information among the various research groups, the Economic Group of the Research Office of the General Office of the Central Committee founded the internal publication *Economic Issues Research Materials*. The first issue published Yao Yilin's speech at the June 27 symposium—"Work Together to Do a Good Job of Investigation and Research on Economic Reform." The Research Office of the General Office of the Central Committee was a newly established institution after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee. I was transferred into it from the Research Office of the First Ministry of Machine Building during its early establishment. Initially, the Research Office of the General Office of the Central Committee had very few staff; the Economic Group had only four or five people. In addition to the work of this investigation and research activity, there were other tasks. With few people and many affairs, everyone was very busy. I participated in the two large meetings presided over by Yao Yilin, and many coordination meetings of the heads of various research groups presided over by Deng Liqun and Ma Hong (Zhang Jinfu was busy with work and rarely attended), organized and edited manuscripts for *Economic Issues Research Materials*, and had some work contacts with each research group. Due to personal experience, the impression is relatively deep. Even today, more than 40 years later, I can still retain some memories of this investigation and research activity. After all, the years are distant, and the materials are not fully preserved; some memories have become somewhat blurred.

财经委是决策机构，下面没有办事机构。由于姚依林是中央副秘书长兼中央办公厅主任，同时是财经委秘书长；邓力群是中央办公厅副主任兼中办研究室（1980年2月党的十一届五中全会决定重新设立中央书记处后，改为中央书记处研究室）主任，同时还担任着中国社会科学院副院长；而马洪任中国社会科学院副院长，还领导着社科院的几个经济研究所，这次调查研究是姚依林主持，主要组织工作是由邓力群和马洪负责的，具体的组织协调和综合资料整理之类的秘书性工作则由中办研究室经济组承担。中办研究室经济组也力所能及地独立做一些专题研究。为了向中央领导同志以及中央有关部门和省、自治区、直辖市领导同志及时反映并在各调研组之间沟通情况，中办研究室经济组创办内部刊物《经济问题研究资料》，创刊第1期刊登的是姚依林在6月27日座谈会上的讲话——《同心协力做好经济改革的调查研究》。中办研究室是党的十一届三中全会后新成立的机构，我是组建初期从一机部研究室调进来的。中办研究室开初人员很少，经济组只有四五个人，除这次调查研究活动的工作外还有一些其他工作任务，人少事繁，大家都很忙碌。我参加了姚依林主持召开的两次大会，邓力群和马洪主持召开的多次各调研组负责人碰头会（张劲夫工作忙，很少参加），组织和编发《经济问题研究资料》稿件，和各调研组都有些工作联系。由于亲身经历，印象比较深刻，在40多年后的今天，还能保留一些关于这次调查研究活动的记忆。毕竟年代久远，资料保存不全，有些事情记忆已经比较模糊了。

II.

二、

After the June 27 meeting, the four research groups each held several meetings to quickly convey and implement the tasks, organize teams, formulate research plans, and begin preliminary discussions on some substantive issues. Everyone actively supported the FEC in organizing such a large-scale investigation and research, believing it was of great significance for doing a good job of the current economic adjustment and ensuring the smooth progress of reform, opening up, and modernization. Deng Liqun and Ma Hong presided over several coordination meetings of the heads of each research group to exchange information, supplement, and revise research plans and topics.

6月27日会议之后，四个调研组都开了几次会议，迅速传达落实，组织队伍，制订调研计划，并开始一些实质性问题的初步讨论。大家积极拥护财经委组织这样大规模的调查研究，认为这对搞好当前的经济调整，保证改革开放和现代化建设顺利进行有重要意义。邓力群和马洪主持召开几次各调研组负责人的碰头会，相互交流情况，补充、修改调研计划和题目。

On July 19, Yao Yilin presided over the second investigation and research work meeting, with Li Xiannian and Bo Yibo attending and speaking. More than 50 to 60 people attended, including heads of relevant central economic departments, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and economists participating in the research activities. The four research groups reported on their work in the previous period and their plans for the next steps.

7月19日，姚依林主持召开第二次调查研究工作会议，李先念、薄一波出席并讲话。中央有关经济部门、中国社会科学院负责同志和参加调研活动的经济学家共五六十人出席。四个调研组汇报前一段的工作情况和下一步打算。

Fang Weizhong reported that the System Group had held three meetings to discuss the arrangement of the research work. The system problem had long been a persistent and difficult issue that no one dared to touch; now that the central authorities had made up their minds, and with the unified leadership of the Finance and Economics Commission, there was hope of getting reform underway. There was relatively consistent understanding of the drawbacks of the current system; regarding what kind of system should be implemented, there had been some preliminary discussion but no complete conception yet. The research work was planned to be divided into two stages: the three months of August, September, and October would focus on drafting small reform plans to be implemented the following year, while after December the study of major reform plans would begin. The system problem involved the overall situation; led respectively by 14 relevant ministries, commissions, and general bureaus of the State Council, 13 research groups were organized to conduct specialized and comprehensive research, namely: the Planning System Group (led by the State Planning Commission), the Industrial System Group (led by the State Economic Commission), the Agricultural System Group (led by the State Agricultural Commission), the Capital Construction System Group (led by the State Capital Construction Commission), the Commercial System Group (led by the Ministry of Commerce), the Foreign Trade System Group (led by the Ministry of Foreign Trade), the Fiscal and Financial System Group (led by the Ministry of Finance), the Science and Technology System Group (led by the State Science and Technology Commission), the Culture, Education, and Health System Group (led by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Health), the Materials System Group (led by the General Bureau of Materials), the Pricing System Group (led by the General Bureau of Pricing), the Labor and Wage System Group (led by the General Bureau of Labor), and the Comprehensive Group (led by the State Planning Commission). Each group was to include comrades from central and local levels, from economic business departments and theoretical research units, with special attention to soliciting the opinions of enterprises, making enterprises the focus of investigation and research. Unified deployment, group activities, proposing reform plans, collective discussion; the Comprehensive Group was responsible for coordination and aggregation, proposing overall planning and conceptions.

房维中报告说，体制组开了三次会，讨论调研工作安排。体制问题长期以来是个老大难，谁也不敢碰，现在中央下了决心，又有财经委统一领导，有希望把改革搞起来。对现行体制弊端的认识比较一致，应当实行什么样的体制，有些初步议论，还没有完整的设想。调研工作打算分两个阶段：八、九、十这三个月以拟订明年就要实行的小改方案为主，12月以后研究大的改革方案。体制问题涉及全局，由国务院14个有关部、委和总局分别牵头，组织13个研究小组进行专题研究和综合研究，即计划体制组（国家计委牵头）、工业体制组（国家经委牵头）、农业体制组（国家农委牵头）、基建体制组（国家建委牵头）、商业体制组（商业部牵头）、外贸体制组（外贸部牵头）、财政金融体制组（财政部牵头）、科学技术体制组（国家科委牵头）、文教卫体制组（教育部、文化部和卫生部牵头）、物资体制组（物资总局牵头）、物价体制组（物价总局牵头）、劳动工资体制组（劳动总局牵头）和综合组（国家计委牵头）。各个小组都要有中央和地方的同志、经济业务部门和理论研究单位的同志参加，特别要注意听取企业的意见，把企业作为调查研究的重点。统一部署，分组活动，提出改革方案，集体讨论；综合组负责协调和汇总，提出总体规划和设想。

Ma Hong reported the work plan of the Structure Group, stating that this investigation and research into the economic structure was intended to clarify the history of China’s economic structure and the main problems currently existing, and to propose a recommended plan for constructing a rational economic structure. Research was to be conducted separately on industrial structure, technological structure, economic organizational structure, ownership structure, industrial structure and import-export structure, employment structure, investment structure, regional structure and urban-rural structure, price structure, and the relationship between accumulation and consumption, as well as overall research. The current focus of research was on agriculture, light industry, the steel industry, the machinery manufacturing industry, the petrochemical industry spanning agriculture, light industry, and heavy industry, and the relationship between accumulation and consumption; specialized discussions were to be held separately with relevant departments and localities. In the three months of August, September, and October, in conjunction with the formulation of the three-year economic adjustment plan, a transitional economic structure reform plan was to be proposed first. Regarding the organization of the research work, units including the State Planning Commission, the State Economic Commission, the State Capital Construction Commission, the State Agricultural Commission, the State Science and Technology Commission, the State Council’s Finance and Trade Group, and the National Defense Industry Office were to establish eight research groups respectively to conduct specialized research on related economic structure issues, and the above departments together with several economic research institutes of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences were each to designate one person to jointly form a Secretariat Group, responsible for coordinating the research work of each research group and each department and region, and for data collation and comprehensive research. An “Economic Model Group” was also to be established, using systems engineering methods to conduct research on the economic structure, proposing various economic models and plans for comparison and selection.

马洪报告结构组的工作计划，说这次对经济结构问题进行调查研究，是要弄清楚我国经济结构的历史和当前存在的主要问题，提出构建合理经济结构的建议方案。要对产业结构、技术结构、经济组织结构、所有制结构、产业结构和进出口结构、就业结构、投资结构、地区结构和城乡结构、价格结构以及积累和消费结构分别进行研究，还要从总体上进行研究。当前调研的重点，是农业、轻工业、钢铁工业、机械制造工业和跨农、轻、重的石油化学工业，以及积累和消费的关系，分别与有关部门和地方进行专题讨论。八、九、十这三个月，要结合三年经济调整计划的编制，先提出一个过渡性的经济结构改革方案。调研工作的组织，由国家计委、国家经委、国家建委、国家农委、国家科委和国务院财贸小组以及国防工办等单位，分别成立八个研究小组，对有关的经济结构问题进行专题研究，并由上述部门和中国社会科学院的几个经济研究所各指定一人，共同组成秘书组，负责协调各调研小组和各部门、各地区的调研工作，进行资料整理和综合研究。还要成立一个“经济模型组”，运用系统工程的方法，进行经济结构的研究，提出各种经济模型和方案，以便进行比较和选择。

Wang Daohan reported that the Introduction Group had invited relevant technical and economic management and scientific research intelligence units to hold several medium-sized meetings to discuss the tasks, scope, organization, and working methods of the investigation and research, and to prepare for the establishment of a World Economic Research Association; to set up a research work liaison center, which would also serve as a data bank; and to arrange with relevant units to jointly draft several legal drafts, including the *Foreign Exchange Control Law* and the *Joint Venture Registration Law*, with the most difficult being the *Company Law of the People’s Republic of China* and the *Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China*. A general survey of the current situation and problems of introduction work had already begun. The scope of the investigation was divided into the following major categories: foreign investment and technology transfer by multinational corporations and consortia, as well as their management methods; issues in utilizing foreign capital, including sources of funds, interest rates, terms, scope of application, and preferential conditions; laws and regulations involved in joint ventures; channels and methods for expanding exports, as well as export composition; and investigation of the situation of equipment already imported and projects currently being imported. The investigation and research was divided into six groups for conduct: comprehensive, joint ventures, technology introduction, import-export, legal regulations, and management modernization. The comprehensive research was to be composed of units including the World Economy Research Institute and the Industrial Economy Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the International Trade Research Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Financial Research Institute of the People’s Bank of China and the Intelligence Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as the Technology Import Corporation and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade; specialized research was to be organized by relevant departments and regions according to their own circumstances and requirements. At present, many things were not well understood; it was planned to organize the publication of reading materials on international economic cooperation, as well as international finance and trade. Based on reports from ambassadors abroad about insufficient preparation for overseas study tours, mutual duplication, and perfunctory treatment by foreigners leading to limited gains, Wang Daohan suggested formulating methods for overseas study tours. He said: “‘How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s lair?’ But if you enter the tiger’s lair and only get a bit of tiger fur, that’s not enough.” [6]6 A classical Chinese idiom from the *Hou Han Shu* (Book of the Later Han), meaning that to achieve a significant goal one must take risks.

汪道涵报告说，引进组邀请有关技术经济管理和科研情报单位开了几次中型会议，商讨调查研究的任务、范围、组织和工作方法，并筹备成立世界经济研究会；设立调研工作联络中心，这个联络中心同时也是资料库；约同有关单位共同起草几个法律草案，包括《外汇管理法》《合资企业登记法》，最困难的是《中华人民共和国公司法》和《中华人民共和国合同法》。已经开始对引进工作的现状和问题进行普查。调查范围分以下几大类：跨国公司和财团的对外投资、技术转让以及管理方法；利用外资问题，包括资金来源、利率、期限和适用范围以及优惠条件；合营企业涉及的法律和章程；扩大出口的途径、方法以及出口构成；对已经进口的设备和正在进口的项目情况的调查。调查研究分综合、合资、技术引进、进出口、法制条例、经营管理现代化六个小组进行：综合研究由社科院世界经济研究所和工业经济研究所，外贸部国际贸易研究所，央行金融研究所和科学院情报所以及技术进口公司和国际贸易促进会等单位组成；专题研究由有关部门和地区按照自己的情况和要求组织调研。现在许多事情不甚了了，计划组织出版关于国际经济合作以及国际金融和贸易方面的读物。汪道涵根据驻外大使反映的出国考察准备不足、互有重复，外国人敷衍应付，以致收获不大的情况，建议制定出国考察办法。他说：“‘不入虎穴，焉得虎子？’但入了虎穴，只弄点虎毛就不够了。”

Yu Guangyuan reported that the Theory Group had held several symposiums and was preparing to focus on studying the theory of the goals of the socialist economy, that is, planning and arranging production starting from final products, and taking whether the maximum possible increase in final products is achieved as the fundamental criterion for measuring the success or failure of all socioeconomic work. Related to this, research was also to be conducted on socialist planning theory, market theory, production regulation theory, population and labor employment theory, as well as some issues in economic research and economic work methods. Yu Guangyuan proposed strengthening the concept of quantity and applying mathematical methods in economic research and work. It was also planned to hold lectures on foreign economics and to standardize some popular economic terms. When Yu Guangyuan mentioned mobilizing more university teachers to participate in theoretical research work, Li Xiannian said: “Right, we should also bring in scientific and technical personnel.”

于光远报告说，理论组开了几次座谈会，准备着重研究社会主义经济目标理论，就是从最终产品出发计划和安排生产，以是否做到在可能的范围内最大限度地增产最终产品作为衡量整个社会经济工作成绩好坏的根本标准。与此相关，还要研究社会主义计划理论、市场理论、生产调节理论、人口和劳动就业理论，以及经济学研究和经济工作方法的一些问题。于光远提出在经济研究和经济工作中加强数量观念，运用数学方法。还准备举办外国经济学讲座，并对一些流行的经济名词进行规范。当于光远说到动员更多的高等学校教师参加理论研究工作时，李先念说：“对，还要吸收科技人员。”

After the reports from the four research groups, Bo Yibo and Li Xiannian spoke, expressing support and encouragement for the research work, and discussing issues of economic system reform based on their own long experience leading economic work.

四个调研组汇报后，薄一波和李先念讲话，对调研工作表示支持和鼓励，并结合自己长期领导经济工作的体会讲经济体制改革问题。

Bo Yibo said: The Finance and Economics Commission organizing comrades engaged in practical work and comrades engaged in theoretical work together to conduct large-scale investigation and research on major issues such as economic reform, economic structure, and introduction is probably a pioneering move in the history of our Party. In the past, when the issue of the economic system was raised, it always revolved around central and local, centralization and decentralization. When there was too much centralization, everyone would complain, saying it was departmental dictatorship and unbearable, so power was delegated; there were several instances of delegation in history. After delegation, if things couldn’t be unified and became chaotic, power was taken back. Now proposing to expand enterprise autonomy and combine planned regulation with market regulation touches the essence of the system problem.

薄一波说：财经委把从事实际工作和从事理论工作的同志组织在一起，进行大规模的关于经济改革、经济结构和引进等重大问题的调查研究，在我们党的历史上恐怕还是创举。过去提出经济体制问题，总是在中央和地方、集中和分散上打圈子。集中多了，大家一喊叫，说条条专政，受不了，就下放，历史上有过几次下放；下放后统不起来，乱了，又收回来。现在提出扩大企业自主权，计划调节和市场调节相结合，这是触及了体制问题的本质。

Li Xiannian said: How to achieve modernization? Complete materials must be produced; serious investigation and research is absolutely necessary. Now everyone says the First Five-Year Plan was good. Was the First Five-Year Plan so good that it couldn’t be better? In fact, at that time, the main responsible persons in various localities were all busy with the Three Great Transformations [7]7 The socialist transformation of agriculture, handicraft industry, and capitalist industry and commerce carried out in China during the 1950s. and couldn’t devote their full energy to economic construction. I was in the province then; whether you unified or not, I was thinking about the General Line for the Transition Period, I was thinking about the Three Great Transformations, I was thinking about implementing the *Marriage Law*. Later, when construction began, it was said we should learn from the Soviet Union; at that time we had no experience, and not learning was not an option. What about now? Soviet things are like stinky tofu: it smells bad but tastes good; you haven’t come up with any new methods. I once said a phrase: “unified without being rigid, lively without being chaotic.” It’s easy to say, but truly difficult to implement; it’s still either unified and rigid, or lively and chaotic. Now there are many problems, especially after so many years of turmoil; truly problems are piled up. Political problems, ideological problems, system problems, introduction problems—problems in all aspects are numerous; comprehensive investigation and research must be conducted. We place great hopes on this large-scale, organized, planned, and focused investigation and research.

李先念说，怎样实现现代化，应该拿出完整的材料来，非进行认真的调查研究不可。现在大家都说“一五”计划好，“一五”计划是不是好得不得了呢？其实，那时各个地方的主要负责人都忙于搞三大改造，顾不得用全副精力来搞经济建设。我那时在省里，管你统不统，我想的是过渡时期总路线，想的是三大改造，想的是贯彻《婚姻法》。后来搞建设，说要学苏联，当时没有经验，不学也不行。现在怎么样呢？苏联的东西是臭豆腐，闻着臭，吃起来香，你没有拿出新的办法嘛。我过去讲过一句话，叫做“统而不死，活而不乱”，话好讲，办起来真难，还是一统就死、一活就乱。现在问题很多，特别是经过这么多年的动荡，真是问题成堆。政治问题、思想问题、体制问题、引进问题，各方面的问题都很多，要全面进行调查研究。对这一次大规模的、有组织、有计划、有重点的调查研究，我们寄予很大的希望。

Yao Yilin expressed approval of the work plans and arrangements of each investigation group. Thereafter, the investigative work of each group was carried out largely according to the plans reported at this meeting. Several coordination meetings of the heads of each investigation group were held, but no such large plenary meeting was convened again.

姚依林对各调研组的工作计划安排表示赞成。此后各组的调研工作，大体上就是按这次会议上报告的计划进行的。又开过几次各调研组负责人的碰头会，但这样的大会没有再开过。

III.

三、

To ensure the quality and progress of the investigative work, each of the four investigation groups organized a lean "directly subordinate team" [zhishu dui]: the System Group had 150 people, the Structure Group 66, the Introduction Group 123, and the Theory Group 30, totaling 369 people. The so-called "directly subordinate team" refers to those personnel directly commanded by each investigation group who were relieved from their other daily work and devoted full time to the investigative activities. It does not include those temporarily seconded for short-term participation in specific investigative activities, those invited to attend seminars and offer opinions, or individuals who provided oral or written opinions to the investigation groups. Therefore, the actual number of people participating in the investigative activities was much larger. The investigative activities were carried out independently by each investigation group as the main body. The investigative work meetings chaired by Yao Yilin on June 27 and July 19, mentioned earlier, were only meetings attended by the heads of the four investigation groups, responsible persons from relevant departments, and a small number of key professional staff. No plenary meeting attended by all 369 members of the "directly subordinate teams" was ever held.

为了保证调研工作的质量和进度，四个调研组都组织了精干的“直属队”，计体制组150人，结构组66人，引进组123人，理论组30人，共369人。所谓“直属队”，就是各调研组直接指挥的脱离日常其他工作而全力以赴参加调研活动的人，不包括临时抽调短期参加某项调研活动、受邀参加座谈发表意见以及个人向调研组提供口头或书面意见的人。所以实际参加调研活动的人要多得多。调研活动是以各调研组为主各自独立进行的，前文所说6月27日和7月19日姚依林主持的调研工作会，只是四个调研组和有关部门的负责人以及少数业务骨干参加的会议，“直属队”369人都参加的全体大会，没有开过。

Although the Finance and Economics Commission [8]8 The Finance and Economics Commission (财经委) refers to the State Council's Financial and Economic Commission, a high-level body established in 1979 to oversee economic policy during the early reform period. did not publicly announce the organization of the investigation and research, because many people from various departments participated and investigations were also conducted in localities and enterprises, it was not actually a secret. On August 8, Deng Liqun [9]9 Deng Liqun (邓力群, 1915-2015) was a senior Chinese Communist Party theorist and propaganda official, closely involved in policy research and ideological work. disclosed the news of the Finance and Economics Commission organizing the investigation and research at a national conference on prices and wages. Xinhua News Agency broadcast a relatively detailed report on these investigative activities on September 3, which appeared in newspapers the following day. Thereafter, more cadres from practical economic departments, professional theoretical workers, and teachers from higher education institutions expressed their desire to participate in the investigative activities, actively contacting the investigation groups, and some even submitted written suggestions on related issues. The Economic Group of the Research Office of the Central Committee of the CPC [10]10 The Research Office of the Central Committee of the CPC (中办研究室) is a policy research unit directly under the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. compiled a brief summary of the work progress since the investigative activities began in late June, writing it as "The Situation and Main Issues Raised by the Economic Problem Investigation and Research Work," signed "Yan Jin," and published in *Economic Problem Research Materials* on October 6, to inform all parties.

财经委组织调查研究虽然没有公开发布消息，因为有各部门许多人参加，还到地方和企业调研，实际上并不是什么秘密。8月8日，邓力群在全国物价、工资会议上披露了财经委组织调查研究的消息。新华社9月3日播发了关于这次调研活动比较详细的报道，次日见报。此后有更多的实际经济部门的干部、专业理论工作者和高等院校的教师，纷纷表示希望参加调研活动，主动和调研组联系，有的还就相关问题提供书面建议。中办研究室经济组把6月下旬调研活动开展以来的工作进展情况作了简要的总结，写成《经济问题调查研究工作的情况和提出的主要问题》，署名“严金”，刊登于10月6日的《经济问题研究资料》，向各方通报。

Leaders of the central financial and economic departments all attached great importance to the investigative activities. Besides actively supporting and participating in the work of the investigation groups organized by the Finance and Economics Commission, departments of industry, transportation, finance and trade, agriculture, forestry, and water resources each established their own investigation groups, with department heads personally participating in and leading the investigation and research on the problems existing in their own departments. Minister of Water Resources Qian Zhengying personally convened a meeting to arrange the investigative work, stating that if a minister did not personally participate in investigation and research, they would have no right to speak in future professional leadership work.

中央财经部门的领导对调研活动都很重视，除积极支持和参与财经委组织的调研组的工作外，工业、交通、财贸、农业、林业和水利各部门，都成立调研组，由部门负责人亲自参加和领导，对本部门存在的问题进行调查研究。水利部部长钱正英亲自召开会议布置调研工作，说部长如果不亲自参加调查研究，今后在业务领导工作中就没有发言权。

After news of the Finance and Economics Commission organizing the investigation and research spread, many provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government also actively launched investigation and research on their own regional economic problems, with some even issuing special documents. In Heilongjiang Province, Provincial Party Committee Secretary Yang Yichen served as the head of the investigation and research leading group, with Governor Chen Lei as deputy head. Other secretaries and standing committee members were assigned responsibilities according to their functional systems, and relevant department heads were required to take personal command and select strong teams to form investigation groups. When the Finance and Economics Commission's investigation groups conducted research in localities and enterprises, they received active support and cooperation. The System Group identified 75 investigation topics, and the Introduction Group identified 37 investigation topics, which were provided for reference by various localities, and all localities provided a substantial amount of practical material.

财经委组织调查研究的消息传出后，不少省、自治区、直辖市也积极开展本地区经济问题的调查研究，有的还专门发了文件。黑龙江省由省委书记杨易辰担任调查研究领导小组组长，省长陈雷任副组长，其他书记和常委按业务系统分工抓，并要求有关部门主要领导亲自挂帅，抽调精兵强将组成调研组。财经委的调研组到地方和企业调研，都得到积极的支持和配合。体制组确定75个调查题目，引进组确定37个调查题目，供各地参考，各地都提供了不少实际材料。

This large-scale investigation and research was directly in service of economic development and reform and opening up, and was carried out in conjunction with the economic adjustment underway at the time. The situations learned and the opinions and suggestions raised by each investigation group were promptly reported to the Finance and Economics Commission and exchanged with the competent economic departments, providing a reference for decision-making. Because the investigative activities involved the direct participation of competent departments and the close integration of those doing practical work and those doing theoretical work, many suggestions were actionable. The Research Office of the Central Committee of the CPC's research on the ratio of accumulation to consumption attracted the attention of Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yun, and Li Xiannian. [11]11 Chen Yun (陈云, 1905-1995) and Li Xiannian (李先念, 1909-1992) were senior CPC leaders and key architects of China's early economic reforms. On March 19, 1980, when discussing the drafting of the "Resolution on Certain Historical Issues of the Party Since the Founding of the People's Republic of China" and the formulation of long-term plans with Hu Yaobang, Hu Qiaomu, and Deng Liqun, Deng Xiaoping said: The Research Office of the Central Committee recently produced a document titled "Exploring China's Reasonable Accumulation Rate from Historical Experience," which is very good. They believe an accumulation rate of 25% of national income is relatively appropriate. The lesson of the past is that it was exceeded, reaching a high of 43.8%, always thinking that the higher the accumulation rate, the faster the construction speed. For our long-term planning this time, we will set the accumulation rate at 25%. Chen Yun and Li Xiannian agreed with Deng Xiaoping's opinion. The economic adjustment at that time and the formulation of the "Sixth Five-Year Plan" were efforts directed towards this goal.

这次大规模的调查研究，是直接为经济发展和改革开放服务，和当时进行的经济调整结合起来进行的。各调研组所了解的情况、所提的意见和建议，都及时报告了财经委，并和经济主管部门交流，为决策提供了参考。由于调研活动是有主管部门直接参加，做实际工作和做理论工作的人密切结合进行的，许多建议具有可操作性。中办研究室对积累和消费比例关系的研究，引起邓小平、陈云、李先念的重视。邓小平1980年3月19日就起草《关于建国以来党的若干历史问题的决议》和编制长期规划等问题同胡耀邦、胡乔木、邓力群谈话中说：中办研究室最近搞了个材料，题目是《从历史经验中探讨我国合理的积累率》，很好。他们认为积累率占国民收入的25%比较合适。过去的教训是超过了，最高时达到43.8%，总以为积累率越高，建设速度就越快。我们这次搞长期规划，积累率就定在25%。陈云、李先念赞成邓小平的意见。当时的经济调整和“六五”计划的编制就是向着这个方向努力的。

After repeated discussions and solicitation of opinions, the System Group drafted the "Preliminary Ideas on the Overall Conception of Economic System Reform" on December 3, 1979, which was distributed to the National Planning Conference for broader opinion solicitation. On December 15, Zhang Jinfu [12]12 Zhang Jinfu (张劲夫, 1914-2015) was a senior economic official, serving as head of the State Economic Commission and later a State Councilor. gave an explanation of the "Preliminary Ideas" at the conference. Zhang Jinfu said that regarding the direction of economic system reform, opinions from various quarters were numerous and could be broadly summarized into three types of conceptions: first, centralized management mainly by the central ministries, appropriately expanding the powers of localities and enterprises; second, management mainly by provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities under the unified leadership of the central government; the third, proposed by the System Group, was to break down barriers between departments and regions according to the requirements of large-scale socialized production, organize specialized corporations and combined corporations, mainly use economic means to manage the economy, implement a combination of planned regulation and market regulation, expand enterprise autonomy under the guidance of the national plan, and delineate the powers of the central and local governments based on the characteristics of various economic undertakings. The "Preliminary Ideas" emphasized that in choosing the direction of economic system reform, it was necessary to absorb all beneficial experiences from foreign systems, but even more so to study the characteristics of China's current socio-economic stage and the main problems existing in the current economic system, in order to explore an economic management system suitable for China's national conditions. At the very beginning of the investigative work, the System Group proposed that the focus of the investigation should be on the fundamental reform of the management system, but the first priority was to solve the problem of how to reform during the three-year period of economic adjustment. The approach was to aim for major reforms but start with small changes; the direction must be accurate, and the steps must be steady. Based on this principle, the "Preliminary Ideas" proposed that during the period of economic adjustment, efforts should be actively made to expand enterprise autonomy and organize pilot companies. In the near term, a batch of cross-industry and cross-regional companies should be organized for pilot projects, such as petroleum companies, tobacco companies, and silk companies. Reforms that were clearly understood, such as the paid use of fixed assets, full credit for circulating funds, partial capital construction investment using bank loans, and enterprise-style management of some public institutions, should be actively promoted. The regulations issued by the State Council at that time on expanding enterprise autonomy and local economic management powers all incorporated opinions and suggestions provided by the investigation groups. According to a report from the State Economic Commission, from 1979 to the end of June 1980, the total number of pilot enterprises in the national industrial sector (excluding military industry) reached over 6,600, accounting for about 16% of the total number of enterprises within the national budget, about 60% of output value, and about 70% of profits; among them, the profit share of pilot enterprises in Shanghai and Tianjin reached over 80%, and in Beijing it was as high as 94%.

体制组经过反复讨论和征求意见，1979年12月3日拟定了《关于经济体制改革总体设想的初步意见》，印发全国计划会议，在更大范围征求意见。12月15日张劲夫在会议上作关于《初步意见》的说明。张劲夫说，关于经济体制改革的方向问题，各方面议论很多，归纳起来，大致有三种设想：一是以中央各部为主集中管理，适当扩大地方和企业的权限；二是在中央统一领导下，以省、自治区、直辖市为主进行管理；体制组提出的是第三种，即按照社会化大生产的要求，打破部门之间、地区之间的界限，组织专业公司和联合公司，主要采取经济手段管理经济，实行计划调节和市场调节相结合，在国家计划指导下扩大企业自主权，并以各项经济事业的特点来划分中央和地方的权限。《初步意见》强调，选择经济体制改革的方向，要吸取国外体制中一切有益的经验，更要研究我国现阶段社会经济的特点和现行经济体制存在的主要问题，探索适合我国国情的经济管理体制。体制组在调研工作之初就提出，调研工作的重点是管理体制的根本改革，但首先要解决三年经济调整期间如何改革的问题，从大改着眼，从小改着手，方向要准，步子要稳。根据这样的原则，《初步意见》提出，在经济调整时期，要积极进行扩大企业自主权，组织公司的试点，近期就要组织一批跨行业、跨地区的公司，如石油公司、烟草公司、丝绸公司的试点；看得准的改革，比如固定资产的有偿使用、流动资金的全额信贷、部分基建投资实行银行贷款、部分事业单位实行企业化管理等，要积极推行。当时国务院颁发的几个扩大企业自主权和地方经济管理权限的条例，都吸收了调研组提供的意见和建议。根据国家经委的报告，从1979年到1980年6月底，全国工业部门（不包括军工）试点企业总数达6600多个，占全国预算内工业企业数的16%左右，产值占60%左右，利润占70%左右；其中上海和天津试点企业利润达80%以上，北京更高达94%。

Although since 1979, Chen Yun, Li Xiannian, and Deng Xiaoping had successively spoken of "combining the planned economy and the market," and Bo Yibo [13]13 Bo Yibo (薄一波, 1908-2007) was a veteran CPC leader and economic policymaker, instrumental in early reform-era economic planning. also mentioned this at the symposium on June 27, these were still principled formulations regarding the economic system. This "Preliminary Ideas" provided by the System Group was the first relatively complete program with "combining the planned economy and market regulation" as its target model. This was a crucial step in the transition from the planned economic system to the socialist market economic system.

虽然自1979年以来，陈云、李先念和邓小平先后讲过“计划经济和市场相结合”，6月27日座谈会上薄一波也讲到这一点，但都还是关于经济体制的原则性的提法。体制组提供的这份《初步意见》，是以“计划经济和市场调节相结合”为目标模式的第一个比较完整的纲领。这是从计划经济体制走向社会主义市场经济体制的关键一步。

IV.

四、

After the Fifth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, the Party Central Committee decided on 17 March 1980 to establish the Central Financial and Economic Leading Group, responsible for economic work; correspondingly, the Financial and Economic Commission was abolished. The investigation and research activities organized by the Financial and Economic Commission completed their assigned tasks and naturally terminated. The System Group was transformed into the System Reform Office of the Central Financial and Economic Leading Group, and in May it formed the basis for the State Council System Reform Office. The work of the Introduction Group was taken over by the State Import and Export Administration Commission — the investigation and research work of the Introduction Group had always been directly led by the competent authority. Initially, it was the State Council Import and Export Leading Group; in July 1979, the Import and Export Leading Group was abolished, and the State Import and Export Administration Commission was established, with Wang Daohan, as one of the deputy directors, continuing to preside over the investigation and research work. The Structure Group and the Theory Group were abolished, transitioning into regular investigation and research work. The Research Office of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee became the Research Office of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and *Economic Problem Research Materials* continued to be compiled and distributed by the Economic Group. Incidentally, during the investigation and research period, this internal publication compiled and distributed a total of 50 issues. Because its content suited the needs of economic adjustment and reform, and because there were few internal publications at the time and communication up and down and left and right was not very smooth, this internal publication received attention, even becoming a clue for discovering talent. On 21 February 1980, Deng Xiaoping forwarded "Some Understanding and Suggestions on the Modernization of the Metallurgical Industry," written by Zhou Chuandian, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Office of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, published in *Economic Problem Research Materials* on 30 January 1980, to four Vice Premiers, Yu Qiuli, Yao Yilin, Gu Mu, and Kang Shi'en: "Please pay attention to this material. How to use comrades like Zhou Chuandian should also be considered." Chen Yun said: All trades and professions, including industry, transportation, finance and trade departments, must have people like Zhou Chuandian participating in leadership. Zhou Chuandian was appointed Vice Minister of Metallurgy in July 1980. At that time, the "Four Transformations" of cadres (revolutionization, rejuvenation, intellectualization, and specialization) were being implemented, and this material provided a typical case. Considering that *Economic Problem Research Materials* had a small print run and a very limited distribution scope, to meet the needs of more people studying economic problems, I contacted China Finance and Economics Publishing House to compile the materials from 1979 to 1985 into five volumes, still using *Economic Problem Research Materials* as the title, published as an "internal distribution," with a brief "Editor's Note" written by me at the beginning. This is a later story.

党的十一届五中全会以后，中共中央1980年3月17日决定成立中央财经领导小组，负责经济方面的工作；同时相应地撤销财经委。财经委组织的这次调查研究活动完成了既定任务，自然终止。体制组转为中央财经领导小组的体制改革办公室，5月在此基础上组成国务院体制改革办公室。引进组的工作由国家进出口管理委员会负责——引进组的调研工作，一直由主管部门直接领导。开始是国务院进出口领导小组，1979年7月进出口领导小组撤销，成立国家进出口管理委员会，汪道涵作为副主任之一继续主持调研工作——结构组和理论组撤销，转入经常性的调查研究工作。中办研究室成为中央书记处研究室，《经济问题研究资料》继续由经济组编发。顺便说说，在调查研究期间，这份内部刊物共编发50期。因为内容适合经济调整和改革的需要，加之当时内部刊物不多，上下左右信息沟通还不太灵便，这份内部刊物受到重视，甚至成为发现人才的一个线索。邓小平1980年2月21日把《经济问题研究资料》1980年1月30日刊登的冶金部科技办公室副主任周传典写的《对冶金工业现代化的一点认识和建议》批给余秋里、姚依林、谷牧、康世恩四位副总理：“请你们重视这个材料，周传典这样的同志，如何使用，也应考虑。”陈云说：各行各业，包括工业、交通、财贸等部门，都要有像周传典那样的人参加领导。周传典1980年7月被任命为冶金部副部长。当时实行干部“四化”（革命化、年轻化、知识化、专业化），这份材料提供了一个典型。考虑到《经济问题研究资料》印数不多，发行范围很小，为满足更多人研究经济问题的需要，我和中国财经出版社联系，把从1979年到1985年的资料汇编为5册，仍以《经济问题研究资料》为书名，作为“内部发行”出版，卷首有我写的一篇简短的“编者说明”。这是后话。

This large-scale investigation and research organized by the Financial and Economic Commission started in late June 1979 and ended in mid-March 1980, lasting a total of more than eight months. This was the largest-scale centralized economic investigation in the early period of reform and opening up, involving the most participants and lasting the longest. This large-scale investigation and research, carried out through close cooperation between practical economic workers and economic theorists, promoted the fine style of integrating theory with practice, emancipated the mind, sought truth from facts, further clarified the history and current situation of social and economic development since the founding of New China, summed up experiences and lessons, and gained a greater understanding of foreign conditions. This provided important opinions and suggestions for the start of economic adjustment and economic reform at that time; from a long-term perspective, it further clarified the "family background" of China's social economy, leading to a more sober and comprehensive understanding of national conditions, which was also a foundational task for building socialism with Chinese characteristics starting from China's national conditions. Some research methods, such as economic mathematical methods, systems engineering methods, and economic models, began to be more widely promoted and applied from this investigation and research. Some international economic and economic knowledge began to be popularized from this investigation and research.

财经委组织的这次大规模调查研究，从1979年6月下旬启动，到1980年3月中旬终止，共进行八个多月时间。这是改革开放初期组织的参加人数最多、持续时间最长的一次集中经济调查。由实际经济工作者和经济理论工作者密切合作进行的这次大规模的调查研究，发扬理论联系实际的优良作风，解放思想、实事求是，进一步摸清了新中国成立以来社会经济发展的历史和现状，总结了经验和教训，对国外情况也有了更多的了解，这为当时的经济调整和经济改革起步提供了重要的意见和建议；从长远来看，进一步摸清了中国社会经济的“家底”，对国情有了更清醒全面的认识，这对从中国国情出发，建设中国特色社会主义，也是一项基础性的工作。一些研究方法，例如经济数学方法、系统工程方法和经济模型，是从这次调查研究开始比较广泛推广应用的。一些国际经济和经济学知识，是从这次调查研究开始普及的。

This investigation and research activity made a contribution to institutional construction by formally incorporating policy research and consultation into the economic decision-making mechanism. Shortly after the conclusion of this investigation and research activity, the State Council successively established the Economic Research Center, the Technological and Economic Research Center, and the Price Research Center. These three research centers were later merged into the Development Research Center of the State Council. Many departments and localities also established similar institutions. The establishment of such policy research and consultation institutions with deep participation by professionals promoted the scientification and institutionalization of decision-making.

这次调查研究活动对制度建设有一个贡献，就是把政策研究和咨询正式纳入经济决策机制。这次调查研究活动结束不久，国务院就先后成立了经济研究中心、技术经济研究中心和价格研究中心，这三个研究中心后来合并为国务院发展研究中心。不少部门和地方也设立了类似的机构。这类有专业人士深入参与的政策研究和咨询机构的设立，对决策科学化和制度化是个推动。

Online Editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆