IGESSIGESS (Institute for Global Economics and Social Sciences)

AREA STUDIES: Economic Growth and Sustainable Development: A Case of China
This course introduces the features of Chinese economy transition pattern compared with the other transition countries and developing countries, and offers an economic framework to understand the realities and problems of economic growth and economic development under the transition period from a macroeconomic perspective. We will discuss some special issues such as the determinants of Chinese economy, regional disparity, and international comparison of economic growth and income inequality.
Each class consists of two parts: (1) lecture and (2) students' presentations of the assignment. At the end of the course, students are also required to submit a short report.

1.Understand the different features of economic transition pattern between China and other countries
2.Understand the determinants of economic growth in China
3.Explain the facts and problems of economic growth and sustainable development in China from a macroeconomic perspective

英語 / English

The course consists the lecture by lecturer and the presentation by student based on Power Point materials. The active discussion is held in the class. At least one real-time online lecture.
The class is designed to be:
1.Interactive: With a strong emphasis on student participation.
2. Up-to-date: With the real-time explanation of unfolding events.
3. Critical and Analytical: Understanding the mechanism and performance of economy institution transition and economic growth
4. Accessible: Develop the ability to understand the differences between countries and regions within a country from macroeconomic perspective
5.Feedback on assignments (reports, etc.) will be given at the beginning of the class, covering some of the reaction papers submitted in the previous class, and feedback will be given to the whole class and through the "Learning Support System" (Hoppii).

あり / Yes

なし / No

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1：Chinese Economy and World Economy

The contents and method of area studies; the current state of the global economy; the position of the Chinese economy in the world

2：Economy in the Socialist Era　

Comparison of the planned economy model between the former Soviet Union and China; the states and problems of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and rural people's communes in China

3：Economic Reform: What is a Socialist Market Economy

The concept of a socialist market economy; two kinds of transition patterns; the role of government in transition countries

4：State Capitalism and the Development Dictatorship Model

The functions of government and market mechanism in transition countries

5.：Active Discussion

Issue1: What is a Socialist Market Economy?
Issue2: What should a government do under the economic transition or economic development period?

6：Economic Growth and Population: An International Comparison (1)

International comparisons of economic development and population transformation; the background and problems of the One-Child policy in China

7：Economic Growth and Population: An International Comparison (2)

The Lewis' Dualism Model and the economic turning point; unemployment and surplus labor in China and Japan

8：International Trade and Transformation from Export-Driven Economic Growth Pattern

Export-driven economic growth pattern; the role of foreign capital; international comparisons of FDI

9：Active Discussion

Issue1: Economic significance and policy implications of economy turning point for
China and other developing countries?
Issue2: The influences of FDI on economic growth for China and other developing
countries

10：Economic Growth and Inequality (1)

Kuznets’ curve; the states of inequality between rural areas and urban areas; the reasons
of regional disparities in China

11：Economic Growth and Inequality (2)

Income inequality; the poverty in China; poverty reduction policies and their effects in China and developing countries

12：Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth

The process of the decentralization and fiscal policy; the tax institution reform and its influence on Chinese economy

13：Regional Development Policies and Sustainable Economy Development

The background of regional development and promotion policy implementation and their effects on economic growth in China

14：Active Discussion

Issue1: Two patterns of economic transition and its effects in area studies
Issue2: The functions of government policies on economic growth and sustainable economic development

Students who have not taken other related courses (e.g., Development Economics, Macroeconomics etc.) are expected to read the textbooks or overviews of those courses in advance.Students are expected to review class material, complete assignments, and download the materials used in the course through the learning support system.

No textbook. Students are expected to download a PowerPoint material through the learning support system and review them.

1.Guo, R. (2017) How the Chinese Economy Works. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-319-32305-3
2.Cai, F. (2020) China’s Economic New Normal Growth, Structure, and Momentum. Singapore: Springer Nature. ISBN 978-981-15-3226-9
3.Pen, C., Yang, C., and Yang, X. (2020) The Basic Economic System of China. Singapore: Springer Nature. ISBN 978-981-13-6894-3
4.Yao, S., and Jiang, C. (2017) Chinese Banking Reform from the Pre-WTO Period to the Financial Crisis and Beyond. Switzerland: Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-319-63924-6
5. Brandt,L., and Rawski, T. G. (2008) China’ Great Economic Transformation. Cambridge U.S.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780511754234

Presentations or reports in active discussions 50%
Final report 50% (An essay. Details TBA)

I would like to try to create better PowerPoints document with consideration of the students’ levels. In addition, I would like to make the lecture more interactive, to answer the questions and to take more discussions with students.