China's Economic Slowdown: Structural, Cyclical and Systemic | G&VPDML | 3 April 2024

Gargi and Vidya Prakash Dutt Memorial Lecture 2024 | China's Economic Slowdown: Structural, Cyclical and Systemic
3 April 2024, Wednesday
Conference Room - 1, India International Centre, New Delhi
The Chinese economy in the post-COVID era has performed significantly below expectations. This trend is underscored by the waning prospects for meteoric growth and the challenges in devising effective short-term strategies amidst shifting circumstances. The persisting real estate turmoil serves as a poignant illustration of both structural constraints and cyclical fluctuations. Yet, less evident but equally significant is the ongoing politicisation of economic affairs in China, eroding incentives and confidence among businesses and households alike. While a recovery remains within reach, it hinges on substantial policy reforms, a reality that Chinese policymakers have yet to fully embrace. This lecture intends to delve into these complex dynamics, and provide a comprehensive analysis of the same.
Speaker: Prof. Barry Naughton
Prof. Barry Naughton is an American economist, an expert on the Chinese economy, and the So Kwan Lok Professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy, at the University of California San Diego. Prof. Naughton is well-known for his balanced approach to analysing the Chinese economy, where he combines rigorous economic analysis with a nuanced understanding of the political and social context of China. In his works on the Chinese economy, Prof. Naughton covers four major areas: market transition and system change, industry and technology policy, foreign trade, and, political economy.
Chair: Prof. Biswajit Dhar
Prof. Biswajit Dhar is Distinguished Professor, Council of Social Development, New Delhi; Honorary Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi; and, formerly, Professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Prof. Dhar has interacted closely with several inter-governmental organisations, and has served as a consultant to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the World Health Organisation, among many others.
Note: The lights were dimmed during the presentation.