本項研究希望在運用以往研究成果中所包含的洞見基礎上，對中國近現代經濟和社會史做一個較為全面的呈現，從而為拉近兩者之間的距離做出努力。

——易勞逸

The purpose of this study is to narrow that gap by drawing on the insights of this new monographic literature to present a general survey of China's recent social and economic history.

Lloyd E. Eastman