Mass Media and Chinese ESL Students Abroad: Adopting Host Communication and Culture investigates Chinese ESL students' use of host mass media and how such use enables them to acquire host communication competence and acculturation from their perspective. This qualitative study is grounded in Kim's theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation and the uses and gratifications theory and employs a phenomenography approach. Nine participants at a university in Ontario were involved in this study. Data obtained from media use logs, think-aloud protocols, and follow-up interviews provide a far-reaching and detailed description of the uses, reasoning, and effects of using host mass media for the participants. This book illustrates that these students used a variety of media as sources of information, language acquisition, culture learning, entertainment, and communication. Findings suggest that host mass media were the major influence on these students' acquisition of host communication competence and perceptions of and acculturation to Canada. Their reliance on mass communication went into the later years of their acculturation process and complemented their language and culture learning, which was somewhat limited through insufficient or reluctant participation in host interpersonal communication. Host communication competence was a primary factor that influenced their selection and use of host mass media, but it was not the only decisive factor relevant to their degree of acculturation. Individual characteristics and the social and cultural environment in Canada were also found to have significant impact on their acculturation process and outcomes. These findings can assist colleges and universities in designing effective programs based on these students' needs and characteristics, thus enabling them to achieve their academic and professional goals.

China's Financial System: Growth and Risks provides an updated and comprehensive review of China's financial system and compares it with financial systems in other countries. It reviews what has worked and what has not within the markets and intermediaries in China, and further considers the effects of the recent development of China's financial system on the real economy. It also examines a non-standard financial sector, which operates beyond the markets and banking sectors and consists of alternative financing channels, governance mechanisms, and institutions. Finally, the authors provide prospects for future research on several unresolved issues including how China's financial system can integrate into the world's markets and economy without being interrupted by damaging financial crises. China's Financial System: Growth and Risks draws four main conclusions about China's financial system and its future development. First, compared with other developed and emerging economies, China's financial system has been dominated by a large banking system. Second, China's financial markets have witnessed significant development, however, their current scale and importance are not comparable to those of the banking sector and they may not be effective in allocating resources in the economy. Third, the alternative financial sector has played an important role in satisfying the financing demand and maintaining the high growth rate in the real economy. Finally, a significant challenge for China's financial system is to avoid damaging financial crises that can severely disrupt economic stability.