| As the richest city class in Chinese modern economic history, compradors remained an important issue. They had four identities at the same time:foreign trader's employee, warrantor ,depute and independent merchant, which made them take on an intricate appearance . In early twenties century, many changes appeared in comprador community: the system grew up, the procession expanded and their business flourished, as well as the classification according to the difference of economic status came forth. It is necessary to investigate and argue comprador's economic condition during this period, and just to achieve such an object, basing on a great deal of history datum ,this text tries to bring out all aspects of comprador's economic condition and to analysis its profound meanings.i. The maturity of comprador system in early twentieth century.The maturity of comprador system was the first exhibition of their economic condition changes. The core of comprador system consisted of guarantee system, responsibility and reward system, aegis system and so on.The system perfected in either external forms or contents, but comprador held the balance of the trade between Chinese and foreigners and took out too much profit from that, besides, they couldn't compensate serious losing entirely ,all of which made their foreign employers more and more jealous and uneasy. Thus, some new forms were adopted. But the reformations mostly were partial, external and experimental. Proved that compradors were absolutely necessary for foreigner's developing business, the force of comprador class was not weakened but strengthened, though the employers were full of complain.ii. Comprador's economic activities in early twenties century.Comprador's economic activities and income were diverse according to the character of their employers. Foreign firm comprador must market goods as the deputy for the firms, negotiate prices, subscribe contracts, deal with payments and ensure the credit of native traders. The form of exclusive selling was in fashion in the period we discuss. More than one compradors were employed in a firm, and were divided into chief-compradors and sub–compradors, which was a new character in comprador community. Their commissions came from sellers and the rata were bargained. Most foreign firm compradors also opened their own firms, which developed business by the special relationship with foreigners.Foreign bank compradors, growing up with the tide of Chinese capital import, were dazzling stars at that time. They dealt with cashes, marketed bullion and foreign exchange, balanced bills, gathered loans and introduced deposits, all of which constituted the ample source of their commission. As the balance of Chinese economy was held up by foreign banks, bank compradors got respectable and awful. Indeed, many of them became the leaders of the business circle at that time. Compradors were also employed in international corporations, steamship firms and insurance agents, but the amount was not very large.It was indubitable that compradors were rich. Their fortunes were mainly fed into three fields: speculation, individual consumption and industry investment. Famous for the extravagant lives at that time, compradors still accumulated a large quantity of capital. Getting rich from hazardous business, they were in deep love with speculative investment. Although a few of them preferred investing industry, they most didn't concern about that. Afraid of losing the privilege from the comprador career, they still left one foot in the job, while the other foot in industry investment. Not translating the fortunes they gathered into the original capital accumulation eagerly needed by national industry, comprador only gave an indirect impel to Chinese economy. iii. The classification in comprador community. Comprador community reached its summit in early twentieth century and different classes came into being. On the one hand, gathering a great mount of fortunes, senior compradors became leaders of the... |
PDF Full Text Request