An entrepreneurial transition? Development and economic mobility in rural Tibet

This paper documents the rise of entrepreneurs in rural Tibet, a process that started in the 1980s and gained considerable momentum in the wake of China's Develop the West Campaign launched in 2000. The authors describe economic transformations in rural Tibet from 1959 to the present, and present case studies of entrepreneurs to show how some Tibetans are capitalizing on new economic opportunities that stem both directly and indirectly from government development policies. Whereas many critics allege that China's development initiatives benefit rural Tibetans only marginally, today's rural entrepreneurs illustrate how some Tibetans are successfully negotiating the new matrix of opportunities. However, because Tibet's economy is highly dependent on government investments, it is unclear whether the increase in entrepreneurial activities is sustainable over the long-term. Nevertheless, the case studies demonstrate several entrepreneurial pathways to upward mobility that are currently available, including farm-based initiatives, construction contracting, cottage industry, and retail business.