This book investigates how China has successfully utilized technological leapfrogging to achieve rapid economic catch-up with advanced nations. Author Keun Lee, a professor of economics, applies a Schumpeterian framework to analyze the mechanisms of innovation, industrial policy, and institutional change that have allowed Chinese firms to bypass traditional stages of development. The text argues that China's unique approach to intellectual property and state-led investment creates a distinct model for emerging economies.

Experts in developmental economics recognize this work as a significant contribution to understanding the 'middle-income trap' and how specific nations navigate it. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which assumes a foundational understanding of economic theory and industrial organization.