Back in 1989, as the communist bloc began its tumultuous collapse, North Koreans were more than twice as wealthy as their comrades in China. Then came the Chinese economic miracle, offering the most successful formula for transition from poverty to prosperity in recorded history. Across the border in Pyongyang, however, the ruling Kim dynasty resolutely declined to follow.Just why successive North Korean leaders-not only Kim Jong Un, but also his father Kim Jong II and grandfather Kim Il Sung-were so reluctant to embrace change is an enduring puzzle. The Beijing model, after all, managed to pull off a rare trick, delivering market-led growth, integration with the global economy, and entrenched Communist Party rule all at the same time.
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