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From 1950 to 1979, under Mao's leadership, China was one of the poorest countries globally, suffering from disastrous policies such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. These policies led to widespread famine and suffering, resulting in millions of deaths and suppressing the country's potential by micromanaging various facets of the economy. A previously industrious and educated populace found itself constrained and impoverished, dragging the nation's economic prospects down dramatically.