The Chinese had a way of describing their reforms—crossing the river by feeling the stones. Essentially, they felt the next stone in the bridge of stones across the river to see if it was stable before stepping on it. Put differently, rather than taking huge untested steps, reforms used to occur incrementally and after experimentation. Often the reform was tested in a few localities or in a specific sector to learn what its effects might be and to iron out any teething problems. Then, as the authorities gained confidence that the reform worked, it was rolled out nationally.
