A Critical Time for Economic Research
Over the past three decades, China has experienced a period of unparalleled, historic change. The country’s economic growth has been nothing less than astonishing, with per capita income increasing by 900 percent since 1990, lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and into the global middle class. Today, China is the world’s second-largest economy and leading manufacturer, an economic leader whose markets are increasingly globally integrated and whose companies are among the world’s most innovative and dynamic. Despite this progress, Chinese policymakers now confront a set of complex challenges as they seek to catalyze a second economic transformation that ushers in a new era of sustainable growth. How can China’s government and financial institutions, which have been a critical element of its unique economic success, evolve to become more efficient? What is the future of Chinese financial markets? And how can China maintain access to the affordable energy needed to power growth without suffering the effects of dangerously high levels of pollution?
A World-Class Research Effort
The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago (BFI) serves as a platform for the dynamic University of Chicago economics community. Uniting faculty from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, and the Law School, BFI supports new research that expands society’s understanding of economic challenges and identifies solutions. Working in close partnership with Chinese researchers and research institutions, BFI aims to develop new insights on the critical economic issues facing Chinese policymakers today. The vehicle for this ambitious effort is BFI-China, a first-of-its kind effort to support University of Chicago economists with research interests in China and to create new opportunities for expanding the world-class community of scholars producing new research focused on the Chinese economy. To support research that produces timely, relevant insights, BFI-China is organized around three targeted research initiatives. Each one of these initiatives will draw from unparalleled skills, knowledge, and expertise of University of Chicago faculty working in collaboration with Chinese institutional partners.
Groundbreaking Collaboration
Tsinghua University-University of Chicago Joint Research Center for Economics and Finance
Established in 1911, Tsinghua University is one of China’s most prestigious and influential universities, with a tradition of academic excellence and strong international partnerships. On November 28, 2018, BFI was proud to announce a new collaboration with Tsinghua University’s School for Economics & Management to form the Joint Research Center for Economics and Finance. The Research Center is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that will support frontier economics research, faculty and doctoral student exchanges, and regular workshops and forums to share results and discuss areas of mutual interest.