The future of China’s economic model amidst increasing domestic and foreign challenges

The China Expert Network Workshop is being organised by the European Central Bank and will be held in a hybrid format at the ECB’s premises in Frankfurt am Main and online via Webex on 16 December 2022.

More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s economy is facing increasing challenges. Its zero Covid strategy implies that Chinese authorities continue to implement strict containment measures to control the spread of the virus, which negatively affects growth. At the same time, other challenges are testing China’s economic model. Activity in the residential sector has sharply deteriorated, while the changing regulatory landscape is increasing policy uncertainty. Moreover, a resurgence in geopolitical tensions has increased the risk of a further decoupling between China and some of its major trade partners. These challenges form the backdrop of a slowing economy and compound adverse structural factors such as demographic developments.

This one-day workshop aims to bring together experts on China from policy organisations and academia to share views and analyses regarding the outlook for the Chinese economy in the context of current domestic and global developments. It will feature a panel discussion and three to four paper sessions.

We welcome contributions on topics related to - but not limited to - the following themes:

• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the zero Covid policy
• China’s changing role in global value chains and potential decoupling from trading partners
• China’s growth model and strategic economic direction
• Dynamics in the residential sector
• Risks within China’s financial system
• China’s geopolitical challenges and their potential impact on the economy
• Monetary and fiscal policy developments and coordination
• Global spill overs arising from shocks in China

Panellists

• Jane Duckett: Edward Caird Chair of Politics and Director of the Scottish Centre for China Research at the University of Glasgow
• Helena Legarda: Lead Analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS)
• George Magnus: Research Associate at the China Centre, Oxford University, and at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London
• Yu Jie: Senior Research Fellow on China, Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House

Please email papers or extended abstracts to CEN@ecb.europa.eu. The deadline for submissions is Monday, 31 October 2022. The authors of accepted papers will be notified by Tuesday, 15 November 2022. The travel expenses of speakers and attendees will be borne by the participants themselves.