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.

READ FULL BFI-CHINA BROCHURE

Our Team

Zhiguo He

Fuji Bank and Heller Professor of Finance, Booth School of Business, University of Chicago; Director, BFI-China

Chong-En Bai

Mansfield Freeman Chair Professor, Department of Economics; Dean, School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University

Michael Greenstone

Director, EPIC; Director, Becker Friedman Institute; The Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics, the College, and the Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago

Lars Peter Hansen

David Rockefeller Distinguished Service Professor, University of Chicago; Program Director, MFR

Guojun He

Director of Research, EPIC-China; Associate Professor, University of Hong Kong

Chang-Tai Hsieh

Phyllis and Irwin Winkelried Professor of Economics and PCL Faculty Scholar, University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Zheng Michael Song

Professor, Department of Economics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Affiliates

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.

Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, China

In partnership with leading Chinese research institutions, EPIC-China will explore opportunities to achieve further, cost-effective pollution reductions that benefit Chinese citizens while fostering economic growth.

Learn More

Macro Finance Research Program, China

MFR-China explores financial market evolution, banking reform, debt, and reform of state-owned enterprises.

Learn More

Chinese Economic Growth Initiative

The Chinese Economic Growth Initiative conducts ground- breaking research to provide a better understanding of the factors driving China’s extraordinary economic expansion.

Learn More

Tsinghua-UChicago Joint Center for Economics and Finance

The Joint Research Center is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that supports frontier economics research, as well as faculty and doctoral student exchanges.

Learn More