PURPOSE: To obtain an aromatic polycarbonate which is usable as a tough polymer under ordinary conditions and degrades at an elevated temp. to enable the recovery of the monomer therefrom in a pure state, by constituting the polycarbonate of a specific repeating unit and specifying the intrinsic viscosity.

CONSTITUTION: The aromatic polycarbonate is substantially made up of repeating units represented by formula I (wherein R is H, a halogen, or a 1-5C alkyl) and has an intrinsic viscosity as measured at 35°C in a 60:40 (by weight) mixture of phenol and tetrachloroethane of 0.2 or higher. It is obtained by polymerizing a cyclic carbonate represented by formula II (wherein R is as defined above) by ring opening polymerization using 0.001-5mol% initiator in the presence or absence of a solvent.