The need for policy and public engagement with China—through rigorous analysis, informed perspectives, and constructive dialogue—has never been more urgent.

The China and the Global Economy initiative aims to foster a deeper understanding of the Chinese economy and its far-reaching implications for the global economic landscape. By supporting cutting-edge research, facilitating student exchanges, and promoting academic and policy dialogues, we aim to equip scholars, students, and policymakers with the tools and insights needed to navigate these challenging times.

As the world navigates the complexities of the 21st century, the role of China in the global economy has become increasingly pivotal. Yet, in an era marked by evolving U.S.-China relations and their growing global ramifications, the need for policy and public engagement with China—through rigorous analysis, informed perspectives and constructive dialogues—has never been more urgent.

On the domestic front, we focus on the evolution of Chinese economy, which has experienced extraordinary growth but now faces significant challenges. We aim to analyze the effectiveness of past policies and identify lessons that other countries, particularly developing and emerging economies, can learn from China's experience. 

On the global front, we examine how China's domestic policies and economic strategies influence the global economy. This is particularly pertinent given the pressing need for collaboration to address the energy and environmental crises, the growing interdependence among nations for advancing innovation and growth, and yet the rising threat of technology decoupling along with the ongoing reorganization of global value chains.

Research Questions 

The China and the Global Economy initiative examines a range of research questions including, but not limited to, the questions outlined below:

  • How do economic policies function in non-democratic settings, and how do political motives shape economic development? 
  • How do China’s domestic policies and economic strategies influence the global economy?
  • What can developing and emerging economies learn from China?
  • How does China influence global dialogues on topics such as technology and innovation, climate change, and energy policy?

Faculty Co-Chairs

Jie Bai headshot

Jie Bai

Associate Professor of Public Policy
Harvard Kennedy School

Jaya Wen headshot

Jaya Wen

Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Harvard Business School

asian man headshot

David Yang

Professor of Economics
Harvard University

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