Policies and Institutions in Shanghai, China

This chapter deals with some of the relevant policies and institutions in Shanghai, China, deemed important for the foreign businessman or investor. The reader must realise that laws and its interpretation has much to do with the culture and the historical experiences a society has and not just its political system. In a situation of very rapid economic and political change, such as in China, it is evident that many of the laws and regulations which citizens of the developed western countries enjoy, would not be yet in place, and even if they were in place, there are often quite different interpretations. An understanding of the culture and history and not just the political system, is therefore essential to appreciate such differences and to operate a business effectively in such a society. This chapter attempts to provide some such understanding.