International Symposium on Private Enterprises and China Economic Development
Call for Papers
You are cordially invited to submit abstracts of your papers for an international symposium on private enterprises and China economic development.
Organizers:
Chinese Economists Society (CES)
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)
Time: Friday to Sunday, June 18-20, 2004
Location: Beijing, China
Objectives
The conference intends to discuss how to promote private enterprise development in China and how to solve China??s many serious economic problems, that include rising unemployment, growing inequality, inefficient state-enterprises, almost-insolvent state banks, and slower growth through private enterprise development.
Significance
The Chinese economy faces unprecedented internal and external challenges, and the faster development of the private enterprise sector is crucial to the successful handling of these challenges. First, the unemployment rate is rising. Many state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and collectively owned enterprises (CVEs) and are losing money and have to lay off workers. Rural disguised and hidden unemployment problem could be much worse. As China gradually opens markets to foreign competition, there will be more unemployment in SOEs and in rural areas. Second, the income inequality is widening. Income gaps between the rich and the poor and between the rural and city residents are growing. Third, the banking sector is burdened with large non-performing loans and the non-banking financial sectors are underdeveloped. It is difficult to channel large amounts of savings to investment, and the threat of a potential financial crisis still exists. Fourth, China faces a challenge of maintaining a sustainable economic growth. Externally, China has entered the WTO and must honor its commitments, including the opening of a number of crucial markets.
Although private and other non-state owned enterprises have taken a strong hold in the Chinese economy, there are many obstacles to further grow for the private sector. For many years prior to the economic reforms, there was not a place for private enterprises in the Chinese economy. Now private enterprises are allowed to exist but are not treated equally. Private enterprises are discriminated against by state-monopolized banks in borrowing and are subject to numerous taxes, fees, and levies from local governments. The legal system to protect private property is very weak. Private enterprises in China also face many other challenges, such as lack of credit, technical and information support, management experience, international trade and investment experience, and long-run planning. In addition, they must deal with the competition from the state enterprises, enterprise management disputes, contract violations, and government officials corruption.
How can private enterprises help China mitigate its macroeconomic problems such as unemployment, income inequality, financial disintermediation, and slowing economic growth? What are the main obstacles to private enterprise development in China? What measures should be taken to promote private enterprise development? What lessons can China learn from other countries in promoting private enterprise development and privatization? A new cabinet of Chinese government will be in place in April 2003 and will have to deal with these problems. The symposium will provide a platform for discussing the above issues and provide urgently needed policy suggestions.
Nobel laureates, including Robert Lucas, and other world-renowned economists, high-ranking government officials, and private entrepreneurs will attend the symposium and deliver keynote speeches and participate in discussions. It is expected that this high profile symposium in Beijing in June 2003 will have epoch-making significance on private enterprise development in China.
Potential Topics
(1) Private Enterprises and Sustainable Growth
(2) Obstacles to Private Enterprise Development and Policy Reforms
(3) Financial Reforms and Financial Infrastructure Development
(4) Financial Intermediation and Credits to Private Enterprises
(5) Property Rights, Legal Protection, and Private Enterprises
(6) Tax, Fee and Fiscal Reforms and Private Enterprise Development
(7) Innovation, Management Improvement and Private Enterprise Governance
(8) WTO, Foreign Investment, and China Private Enterprises
(9) Private Enterprises and Urban and Rural Unemployment
(10) Private Enterprise Development, Income Inequality and Poverty Relief
(11) SOE and TVE Reforms and Privatization
(12) Consumer Credit, Domestic Demand and Economic Growth
(13) International Trade and Investment and Regional Economic Cooperation
(14) Comparative Advantages, Specialization and Industrial Development Strategies
(15) Privatization in the World and its Implications to China
(16) International Experiences of Private Enterprise Development
Abstract SUBMISSION
Please email an extended abstract (less than 800 words) of your paper no later than January 10, 2003 to Shuanglin Lin at: slin@mail.unomaha.edu. The subject of the email should be Beijing Conference Abstract.?? The cover page should include your paper title, name, affiliation, mailing address, phone, fax, and email address. The second page should start with the title of the paper and four key words.
SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION
The Conference Academic Committee will select qualified papers through an anonymous process. Successful applicants will be notified by February 10, 2003. The deadline for submitting the completed paper is May 20, 2003.
EXPENSES AND SUBSIDIES
The sponsors will cover lodging and meals during the conference in Beijing for CES paper presenters. The CES will provide only one presenter of each paper with a limited amount of international travel subsidy.
