Political Economy of China

The past few decades have seen China increasingly rising as a political as well as economic superpower. Some economists have predicted China to surpass the United States as the world’s largest economy sometime over the next 50 years. Given its unique scale, China’s global footprint is already considerable. To become an active participant in today’s world requires a basic understanding of the county and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

The course is organized into three broad segments: 1) The history of China; 2) the Chinese Economic Miracle since 1978; 3) contemporary issues. This first part will only capture the key periods and turning points in historical China, which is necessary for understanding how historical institutions continue to shape our life today. The course’s primary focus will be on the Chinese economic takeoff since 1978 and contemporary issues, with an emphasis on structural analysis and cross-country comparisons.