Background
With its ongoing reforms and key role in the world economy, China stands at a crossroads in its economic development. Slowing GDP growth suggests it may be approaching a new stage of development, where future growth will become more reliant on innovation and human capital rather than efficiency gains from reform and physical capital accumulation.
Domestically, Chinese economists debate the future role of the state versus the market in directing economic activity – for example, over the desirability of an active industrial policy. Important policy choices also arise over distributional issues, as the country grapples with inequalities caused by rural-urban dualism, regional disparities and marketisation.
Internationally, President Xi Jingping has openly aligned China with globalisation and free trade. The country faces challenges to its trade prospects after the election of a US President who campaigned on a protectionist platform. On the other hand, opportunities have arisen from Brexit, with the UK seeking to deepen trade relations with China. This conference invites leading economic scholars to present and discuss original research on these varied issues, with the aim of making evidence-based contributions to contemporary debates on China’s economic policy.
Aims:
To present and discuss cutting-edge research on business and economics in China at this pivotal point in history
To collate evidence-based analysis on the major aspects of Chinese livelihoods affected or impaired by the slow-down in GDP growth.
To provide original policy analysis and identify the potential policy impacts of rigorous research.
Themes:
The conference is a general one on the Chinese economy. Broad themes are:
- Industrial sectoral upgrading and structure of economic growth
- Poverty, inequality and welfare
- Entrepreneurship, innovation and investment
- Trade and the labour market
Invited speakers/discusssants:
- Professor Justin Yifu Lin, Peking University
- Professor Weiying Zhang, Peking University
- Professor Scott Rozelle, Stanford University
- Professor Yaohui Zhao, Peking University
- Professor Li Shi, Beijing Normal University
- Professor Bob Gregory, The National University of Australia