Since 1979 China has been following a new development strategy which emphasises the roles of improving productivity and strengthening external economic relations. To implement this strategy, China is in the process of reforming her system of economic administration. This involves generally giving greater autonomy to local authorities and basic economic units, a greater use of market mechanism to regulate and co-ordinate economic activities, and enlarging consumer choice. These changes are in recognition of past problems and defects experienced in China’s socialist economic development. Theoretical work has been carried out to justify and guide the reforms, and policies have been adjusted frequently in response to problems emerged during the reform process. For both traders and researchers concerned with China, a sound understanding of China’s administrative system and development strategies has become increasingly important. Hong Kong’s business and other institutions with interests in China have become particularly keen to recruit economists with expertise in the Chinese economy, both to help formulate trade and investment decisions and to advise on the Chinese macroeconomic context.

The Economics Concentration of the BSocSc (Hons) in China Studies aims to meet a growing need for a programme oriented towards the Chinese economy in the belief that a sound training in economic theories and in Chinese economy gives a particularly useful perspective in understanding contemporary China. It aims to develop students’ critical and analytical ability, fluency in Putonghua, and in-depth understanding of contemporary China. The design of the curriculum of the Economics Concentration is based on this philosophy.