Describing how China is in the lead in transforming finance for the digital ageChina has been at the forefront of one of the most important revolutions in contemporary business practices: the rapid growth of digital finance. From mobile payments to online investment, from Big Tech lending to digital insurance, and from open banking to central bank digital currency, China has been among the most advanced sometimes the most advanced of the major economies in adopting technologies that are changing both the financial system and the lives of millions of people. China has been especially far-sighted in promoting financial inclusion offering financial services for the first time to people regardless of their location, job status, or income. This book is the product of a joint research project between economists at the National School of Development, especially the affiliated Institute of Digital Finance, at Peking University and at the Brookings Institution. It investigates the impact of financial technology on job creation, income distribution, and consumer welfare in China. It also examines larger systemic issues such as monetary policy, stability of the banking sector, and international trade and payments. With a primary focus on the development of digital finance in China, most of the contributions are from Chinese economists. But the volume also considers implications for the rest of the world in several chapters written by international economists from Brookings. The depth and breadth of the descriptions and analysis in this ground-breaking book will appeal to scholars of China, finance professionals, and policymakers around the globe.

The remarkable rise of China over the past three decades has been unprecedented in both its scale and speed. Analysts around the world have attempted to understand the causes of this unique event and to predict how long it will last. China's rise has also raised two important questions. The first concerns the stability and the sustainability of China's growth, which has been accompanied by growing internal and external imbalances, rising inequality at home, environmental degradation and an increased risk of catastrophic climate change, and has happened in spite of the continuing, if diminished, role of the state in many sectors of the economy. The second concerns trying to guess what the effect of China's rise will be on its relations with the rest of the region, the world and the existing global order. It seems only a matter of time until China becomes the world's largest economy, and history suggests that it is unthinkable that this event would be without geopolitical consequences. The chapters in this volume draw on papers originally presented to the 34th Pacific Trade and Development Conference held in Beijing in 2010 to discuss these two big questions and China's changing role in the world economy. This book will be welcomed by students and scholars of Chinese economics, business and politics, and those interested in the pervasive impact of China's development on the global economy.

The remarkable rise of China over the past three decades has been unprecedented in both its scale and speed. Analysts around the world have attempted to understand the causes of this unique event and to predict how long it will last. China's rise has also raised two important questions. The first concerns the stability and the sustainability of China's growth, which has been accompanied by growing internal and external imbalances, rising inequality at home, environmental degradation and an increased risk of catastrophic climate change, and has happened in spite of the continuing, if diminished, role of the state in many sectors of the economy. The second concerns trying to guess what the effect of China's rise will be on its relations with the rest of the region, the world and the existing global order. It seems only a matter of time until China becomes the world's largest economy, and history suggests that it is unthinkable that this event would be without geopolitical consequences. The chapters in this volume draw on papers originally presented to the 34th Pacific Trade and Development Conference held in Beijing in 2010 to discuss these two big questions and China's changing role in the world economy. This book will be welcomed by students and scholars of Chinese economics, business and politics, and those interested in the pervasive impact of China's development on the global economy.

In the wake of the global financial crisis, Asia is leading the global recovery with strong economic growth. However, this book argues that, in the coming years, the region will need to play a much more active role in shaping the future global financial system and, in turn, suggests policy strategies for doing so. Asian Financial Integration explores the lessons we can learn from Asia's experience during the global financial crisis in terms of the future direction of the region's economic policy and the challenges posed by the opening and deepening of its financial markets. The contributors deal with a number of crucial questions, including what Asia should learn from the crisis, especially with regards to financial innovation and regulation; whether global imbalances are a result of policy distortions or a natural outcome of global division of labour; what are the lessons and implications from the financial market reform and liberalization experiences of some of the region's major economies; and what should Asia do to promote regional financial integration, particularly with regards to currency integration. This book will be welcomed by students and scholars interested in Asian economics and international economics, as well as by policy-makers working in the field.

In the wake of the global financial crisis, Asia is leading the global recovery with strong economic growth. However, this book argues that, in the coming years, the region will need to play a much more active role in shaping the future global financial system and, in turn, suggests policy strategies for doing so. Asian Financial Integration explores the lessons we can learn from Asia's experience during the global financial crisis in terms of the future direction of the region's economic policy and the challenges posed by the opening and deepening of its financial markets. The contributors deal with a number of crucial questions, including what Asia should learn from the crisis, especially with regards to financial innovation and regulation; whether global imbalances are a result of policy distortions or a natural outcome of global division of labour; what are the lessons and implications from the financial market reform and liberalization experiences of some of the region's major economies; and what should Asia do to promote regional financial integration, particularly with regards to currency integration. This book will be welcomed by students and scholars interested in Asian economics and international economics, as well as by policy-makers working in the field.

HUANG Yiping is Professor of Economics at the China Center for Economic Research, National School of Development, Peking University, China. He is also an adjunct professor at the Australian National University and a member of the China Finance 40 Forum. His current research focuses on macroeconomic policy, international finance and rural development. CAI Fang is Director, Professor and Fellow at the Institute of Population and Labor Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China. He serves as Vice Chairman of the China Population Association. His current research focuses on China's labor migration, population and development, economic reform, income distribution and poverty.

How will China reform its economy as it aspires to become the next economic superpower?It's clear that China is the world's next economic superpower. But what isn't so clear is how China will get there by the middle of this century. It now faces tremendous challenges such as fostering innovation, dealing with ageing problem and coping with a less accommodative global environment. In this book, economists from China's leading university and America's best-known think tank offer in depth analyses of these challenges. Does China have enough talent and right policy and institutional mix to transit from input-driven to innovation-driven economy? What does ageing mean, in terms of labor supply, consumption demand and social welfare expenditure? Can China contain the environmental and climate change risks? How should the financial system be transformed in order to continuously support economic growth and keep financial risks under control? What fiscal reforms are required in order to balance between economic efficiency and social harmony? What roles should the state-owned enterprises play in the future Chinese economy? In addition, how will technological competition between the United States and China affect each country's development? Will the Chinese yuan emerge as a major reserve currency, and would this destabilize the international financial system? What will be China's role in the international economic institutions? And will the United States and other established powers accept a growing role for China and the rest of the developing world in the governance of global institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund, or will the world devolve into competing blocs? This book provides unique insights into independent analyses and policy recommendations by a group of top Chinese and American scholars. Whether China succeeds or fails in economic reform will have a large impact, not just on China's development, but also on stability and prosperity for the whole world.

The growth model of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has been based on high investment and exports, a low-cost advantage, and government interventions. This model has successfully transformed the country from a low-income to an upper middle-income economy. However, the model has generated contradictions that could undermine future growth. Making the transition to high income requires greater reliance on efficiency, productivity, innovation, and market competition.This book examines the challenges faced by the PRC in sustaining robust growth and offers policy options for making a successful transition to high income while avoiding the middle-income trap. Chapters focus on all aspects of the PRC's economy including: the growth model, the role of government, industrial upgrading, the financial sector, fiscal management, human capital, the services sector, urbanization, labor market transitions, aging and the pension system, income inequality, managing external economic relations, and water scarcity. Policy analysts, researchers, academics, and students interested in the growth and development prospects of the PRC will find this book invaluable, as will practitioners and policymakers in government agencies and international organizations. Contributors: L. Brandt, F. Cai, J. Huang, Y. Huang, K. Jia, Y. Jiang, X. Lei, L. Li, J. Liu, Y.F. Lommen, N. Lustig, J. Ros, L. Song, P. Vandenberg, G. Wan, M. Wang, W.T. Woo, L. R.Wray, J. Xu, Y. Yao, C. Zhang, Y. Zhao, J.Zhuang

Chinese agriculture has experienced some radical changes over the past twenty years. Following the successful introduction of the household production system in the early 1980s, difficulties were encountered in establishing a unified domestic agricultural market in the later 1980s and 1990s. Through a comprehensive analysis of the changes in the Chinese agricultural institutions between the late 1970s and the mid-1990s, this study attempts to provide some answers to the main questions presently facing the agricultural sector. It focuses on the key elements of the pre-reform agricultural institutions, reviews the ways these institutions were refashioned and assesses the resulting changes in agricultural development. The implications of different policy choices are carefully considered with the assistance of a computable general equilibrium model. The author argues that China should push forward with its market-oriented reform measures and introduce the rigours of international competition into the agricultural sector.

China's economic reform not only significantly improved the living conditions of the Chinese people but also provides a useful model of economic transition from central planning to a market economy. How did the Chinese economic reform succeed? What are the issues still to be addressed? And what are the lessons? This volume brings together thirty articles by prominent economists in the field of Chinese economic studies. It offers authoritative and thorough assessment and analyses of the Chinese experiences during the reform period.

China's economic reform not only significantly improved the living conditions of the Chinese people but also provides a useful model of economic transition from central planning to a market economy. How did the Chinese economic reform succeed? What are the issues still to be addressed? And what are the lessons? This volume brings together thirty articles by prominent economists in the field of Chinese economic studies. It offers authoritative and thorough assessment and analyses of the Chinese experiences during the reform period.