In the early 20th century, the dual economic structure formed and has survived for a century; this mode has undergone several changes and has a profound impact on China's economy and society.Based on the evolution history of dual economic structure since the 20th century, this paper adopts the institution transference theory to make a comparative analysis of three dual economic modes in the aspects of reasons for the formation & structure characteristics and their effects on the economy and society from a perspective of agriculture, rural regions and peasants.It finds that the three modes of dual economic structure lead to a common outcome:rural-urban division and the decline in agriculture, rural areas and peasants. But there exist differences in route choice and influence degree:firstly, in the early 20th century, market-induced dual economic structure in Republic of China led to serious fragmentation between social classes and between urban and rural areas and social disorder through the market mechanisms like urban-rural unequal trade and capital market flow; secondly, in the fifties and sixties of the 20th century, institution-constraint-oriented dual economic structure resulted in lower agriculture productivity and excessive average income of farmers through rigidity institution constraints such as state monopoly on purchase and sale, household registration system and the system of people's communes; thirdly, in the eighties and nineties of the 20th century, composite dual economic structure gave rise to the disadvantageous position of agriculture, rural areas and peasants in the aspects of urban-rural trade, employment and social guarantee, owing to the combined action of rigidity institution constraints and market factors. This paper helps us to more deeply understand the composite and involution development characteristics of current dual economic structure, and provides enlightenment for how to crack current dual economic predicament by market and institution reform and comprehensively deepen rural reform.