Research On Flour And Bran Trade Association In Shanghai During Early Years Of The New State

Trade Association is the organization with a long history in the business world, which has showed a certain degree of effectiveness in advancing the economic development of the industry and assisting the Government in economy regulation. Regarding Trade Association play an important role in contacting private industrialists and businessmen, The communist party of China temporarily take the policy of preservation and utilization on Trade Association at the beginning of our republic, but the Trade Association, after all, is private industrialists and businessmen organization with remains and shortcoming which old Guild bringsè hence the new regime decided to restructure and transform it.After restructuration and transformation, significant changes have taken place in the nature and functions of Trade Association. Federation of Industry and Commerce gradually took control of the personnel and financial power of Trade Association. With government policies and decrees as the first task, The Trade Association, which less independent, no longer highlight the aim of the traditional trade interests. The political space of Flour and Bran Trade Association have been compressed by Federation of Industry and Commerce, Its co-ordination of industry economic feature also have been stripped by the state-run grain company and the Food Bureau in Shanghai. Trade Association become role of execute policy and decrees under the leadership of the state institutions.Generally, Trade Association show fit and submissive attitude towards the Government’s policy, but in some cases, especially before the transition period total route announcement, they also resist the Government in order to protect the trade interests. For instance, Trade Association challenge the Government’s policy on the issue of industry classification and flour sales price. Due to "public-private partnerships beneficial" principle, the Government meet the demands of the Association in varying degrees. This shows that early years of the new state the Trade Association still in a certain extent, have their own independent space, and the power to maintain industry interests.Flour and Bran Trade Association play an important role in the creation of Shanghai food plan supply system. It set up examination and distribution panels which greatly improve the accuracy of sales plans and distribution of flour, the Association also take advantage of their organization to assist the Government in investigating the situation of the industry, gradually make food plan supply system perfect. However, Government doesn’t intend to always rely on Association.When the food plan supply is on the right track, Government began to limit the functions of Trade Association. After stable point supply, the power of plans and distribution of flour has been transferred from Association to the Food Bureau subordinate grain and oil depot.When itself is transformed, Association promote private flour shops to accept socialist transformation. After socialist transformation, Association lost market and social basis for survival.èAt this point, the outcome of Trade Association which have become "empty shell" is only one, that’s the end. The demise of Trade Association is a specific performance of strengthening of state power and decline of "public" areas.