In the field of economics, Lin Yifu and Zhang Weiying, two top scholars, can be said to represent two major camps. Since the "Peking University Firefight Incident" in 1995, they have been "tearing each other apart" for nearly 25 years, and they have also accompanied China together, trekking through thousands of mountains and valleys, and experiencing countless winds and rains.
Lin Yifu was born in Yilan in 1952; Zhang Weiying was born in 1959 in Wubao, Shaanxi
Over the past few years, on various occasions such as gatherings, speeches, conferences, and newspapers, they have always confronted each other and made a lot of noise when talking about the economic issues of China and the West. And the biggest significance of the war of words between them may lie in the fact that the anger between the two sides is not a personal grudge, not a struggle for strength, not a boring quarrel or dog blood gossip, etc., although the results are "ultimately unable to seize their ambitions", but both sides can be generous, show grace, and not "mourn the little husband". Caijing magazine noted that they "always have a smile on their faces when they hear each other refute themselves."
At a seminar on November 9, 2016, the two men again met briefly. On the spot, Lin Yifu publicly explained his doubts, saying that "Zhang Weiying and I are different and harmonious", and said with deep feelings, "The two of us have been old friends for more than 30 years, upholding the sense of responsibility of Chinese intellectuals for academic research and national development, and each of us has put forward our views without reservation." In Zhang Weiying, every time I talk about Lin Yifu, I am also the respect of "Mr." Yunyun, a look of "profiting the country, how dare I avoid it", which I have personally seen and heard a few years ago.
Former "model officer" Lin Yifu, in 1979, gave up his life to cross to Lu and never had the opportunity to return to his hometown
Moreover, more importantly, they are all "state-of-the-country", and these superficial wars of words often directly affect our national decision-making or orientation. Therefore, at a time when it is still necessary to gather the wisdom of all parties in order to continue to carry the weight forward, Lin Yifu and Zhang Weiying's "undefeated argument" is extremely valuable. This is also the proper meaning of a mature society, and the melons do not need to worry about whether the two will "end up" on the spot.
It can be said that this is an open, civilized, and rational "mutual tearing", and the more the merrier. This is the basic tone of this "academic vendetta".
Then, I may have to ask the melon-eating masses: Zhang Weiying and Lin Yifu, who have been fighting endlessly for more than 20 years, what are they fighting over?
My simple summary is the dispute between the government and the opposition, the dispute between the schools, the dispute between the left and the right, the dispute between the omnipotent power of the market and the government,between the characteristics of the country and the Western-style prescription. Or to put it more clearly, it is the "dispute between truth and falsehood" that some friends seem to deliberately "stigmatize". To further condense the understanding: in the current economic process, our government should play a dispute over what role to play.
The Essence of the Confrontation: The Relationship Between Government and The Market?
Zhang Lin's dispute, small fights and small troubles, are really difficult to count. However, it is clear that there were at least two or more big debates: one was at Peking University in 1995, on the reform of state-owned enterprises, and the other was the fierce debate around industrial policy in November 2016. It is these two or three "Huashan confrontations" that have attracted the attention of many people at home and abroad.
Lin Yifu claimed to belong to the reform department of the neoclassical economic school, while Zhang Weiying considered himself to be the authentic biography of the new Austrian school, but in fact, he could generally explain the content of the debate. Zhang Weiying is known as the "most resolute defender" of the market economy theory, adhering to the concept of Western economics, especially the New Austrian School, advocating the implementation of the optimal mechanism arrangement first, so as to develop the economy to overcome the "late-developing disadvantage", so as to strengthen the rule of law, protect property rights, and improve order. He called himself an entrepreneur and a man of the people, and admitted that there were many crises in the prosperous world.
Zhang Weiying, who came from the lowest poverty, repeatedly said, "I will not speak to please anyone."
As for Mr. Lin Yifu, he is the defender of Sino-Special Economic Theory, and even more the defender of realistic policies, and the set that has been repeatedly refuted is a rigid set of Western theories, believing that in terms of reality and experience, although the late-developing countries need to make changes to the existing economic structure and social mechanism, they must not be implemented after the mechanism reform is completed, and I am convinced that in the late 40 years, our policy is basically correct, and it will be generally OK step by step.
In addition, Zhang Weiying also insisted that there is still a particular lack of a sound and perfect ideological market in China, which is the root cause of many shortcomings that are difficult to overcome, the cause of the dangers of economic problems, and the biggest obstacle for "people of insight" to avoid the situation. Mr. Lin argued that ideological convergence is a necessary management measure for any development china, and there are better channels for the "thought market".
The core of these debates, aside from the various obscure smoke bombs, is an ancient question, that is, the role of the government, and how it "collects" and how to "release", especially the degree of grasp of the difference. Roughly speaking, in terms of theoretical assumptions, Zhang believes that the market economy is "not the best but the least bad", and it is the responsibility of the government to do not do well; while Lin Yifu's implication is that free capital carries malice, and once it is not well controlled, it will be out of control.
To use a more vulgar metaphor, Zhang's proposition is like the extremely free concept of marriage and love between men and women, as long as you love and I love to cheat is also love; and Lin's concept is much more traditional and conservative, repeatedly emphasizing the responsibility of marriage and love, insisting that once cheating, the whole family will have the evil consequences of overturning.
If you dare to judge the right and wrong of Lin Zhang's dispute, my basic view as a layman is indeed a bit of a "left and right" style and thin mud, thinking that each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Academically, Zhang Weiying is much better than Lin Yifu, he follows the universal theory of international practice, almost none of which is incorrect, and Mr. Lin can only question "take care of it left and right", and also reflects Lin's loss of position before and after, like a "big flicker"; but in the consideration of practical problems, Mr. Lin is obviously more far-sighted and pragmatic, and also contrasts Zhang Weiying's far-sightedness and neglect, and even some people ridicule "after all, a bookworm". To a large extent, this is caused by the different identities of the two people: one is a "theoretician", and to provoke criticism is to be conscientious; the other is a "participant", focusing on construction and more constraints.
The Invisible Man Behind the Controversy: The Late Legendary Economist Yang Xiaokai (1948-2004)
I have always believed that many times, in our economics community, there is no "economics" at all, only political economy. The focus of the Lin-Zhang controversy lies in the status and function of the government in the economy, and Zhang focuses on revealing the problem of universal economic laws, which is the essence and cause of the in-depth problem; while Lin focuses on the implementation of the real economy, which is the most empirical observation. Each has its own focus, and nature has repeatedly picked up the grid.
Therefore, if we really want to discuss its superiority and inferiority, it seems that it can be explained in one sentence: Zhang Theory is rigorous and correct, but it may not be appropriate in the specific implementation, for example, when he presided over the great cause of Peking University's reform, the politics of a school in the district, and in the end he did not make a lot of anger and resentment; and Lin was a member of the top economic think tank and a participant in decision-making, and his remarks represented the idea of real economic decision-making, which was the theory of "old and conspiratorial", and it was necessary to consider the game between the forces of all sides, the need to take into account the situation at all ends, the compromise of various forces, and it was impossible to speak completely freely. This person who has stepped on politics and learned from two things has more or less borne the insult of "Guo Moruo of the economics world" for a long time.
That is to say, Zhang Weiying is not in his position, representing the voice of the "opposition economists" who supervise, criticize, and advise, "the promise of the soldiers is not as good as the praise of a soldier"; his bold and outspoken words are awe-inspiring and full of intellectual nature; while Mr. Lin is in the bureau, he is the identity of a builder, and his strength is not a vain voice, in an era of sheep's intestines, with the standards he holds and the training he has received, who does not know that the economic outline advocated in some conference rooms is really flawed? However, "there are extraordinary people, then there are extraordinary things, there are extraordinary things, and then extraordinary merits", "generational slander" is its mission and fate, in the face of Professor Zhang's doubts, his tricks and tricks can only be covered up and cunning, and some insincere words for the economy can only come out of his mouth.
Therefore, in terms of cognition and emotion, I am closer to Zhang Weiying, believing that what he says is more in line with the "truth of economics". However, I also have deep respect for Mr. Lin Yifu, although it is more understanding and sympathy. Thinking back to the Republic of China era, the scholar Jiang Tingdi entered the cabinet and said a famous saying, "Avoiding slander cannot be used as a philosophy of life for people with flesh and blood", I think Mr. Lin should have a deep understanding of this. For the sake of China's sustained take-off and steady progress, many "Lin Yifu" scholars have endured too much humiliation.
Therefore, from the greatest kindness to understand, although the views and even positions are often pointed at Mai Mang, Mr. Zhang Linliang is a Chinese intellectual with a strong sense of home and country.
For any economist who pervades this sentiment, putting his country on the right path as he thinks it is may be a more important job than the victory or defeat of the quarrel, the honor and disgrace of the reputation. Moreover, our problem today is indeed not a question of which economic concept is more advanced, but still the problem of rice bowl, the problem of people's livelihood, the problem of justice, and even the problem of tranquility. Some words seem to be a complaint of negative energy, but they are also a complaint that has to be made, because if the problem already exists, it is better to puncture it than to impose a paste. After the hole is pierced, we can understand it, we can think about it, and we can solve it.
In the 40 years of reform and opening up, our economic and people's livelihood road has been covered with wind and rain and how much candy and yellow have been overturned. Looking back or looking forward now, there are too many consistent problems or laws that we cannot understand or imagine. However, what needs to be clear is that it must be another important opportunity for China's economy to be reborn and continue on the road. "Ten thousand mountains do not allow a stream to run, and the sound of the creek is noisy day and night."
To the foot of the mountain in front of the head, the tangtang creek water out of the front village", the lack of confidence is indispensable, and caution is also indispensable.
The dispute between Zhang Weiying and Lin Yifu, who is right and who is wrong, anyone who says it is useless, and it needs to be proved by the facts after that. And as shallow as I am, all I can say is this few gossip.