Courses

The purpose of this course is to introduce master students and advanced undergraduate students to the critical issues surrounding China’s economic development within the context of its domestic politics. The course begins with some core economic concepts and China’s economic history from prerevolutionary times to the present. It then explores China’s rural and urban economies, private sector, local governments, income inequality, social welfare provision, and macroeconomic planning. It next turns to China’s financial system. It concludes with some discussion on the future of China’s economic system. Throughout the course, we will focus on identifying the key players (political elites or institutions) in China’s economic system. We will pay special attention to the preferences of these key players and the incentives and constrains facing them. 

 

The course does not presume any prior knowledge of China or Chinese language, although comfort with theories of international relations and comparative politics or basic economics would be helpful.