Events
China in the Global Economy - 2nd Kiel-Göttingen-CEPR Conference
Location: Leibniz Association, BerlinDate: July 17 and 18, 2025
Today, China stands as the world’s foremost exporter and a significant global investor. Its global reach is exemplified by initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative spanning over 150 countries. Its state-led economic model and intertwined economic-political strategy differ markedly from Western approaches, positioning China as a key player in geoeconomics as it leverages economic prowess for strategic objectives. While China and European economies share interests in maintaining the global economic order, tensions persist over market access, competition practices, and strategic industries. Despite China’s pivotal role in transforming the world economy, academic research has not kept pace with its growing influence and the implications of its economic rise.
The second edition of the conference will serve as a nexus for leading scholars delving into China’s multifaceted role in the global economy. By convening in central Berlin, steps away from the governmental district and main railway station, the conference also aims to foster dialogue between academic research and policy practice. This unique setting will facilitate exchange between researchers studying China’s economic impact and decision-makers shaping international economic relations.
Our keynote speakers are Ruixue Jia (Associate Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the China Data Lab, University of California San Diego) and David Yang (Professor of Economics and Director at the Center for History and Economics, Harvard University).
More information can be found here.
China in the Global South: Consequences for Economic Development - Joint Hong Kong-Kiel-Göttingen Workshop
Location : Asia Global Institute, The University of Hong KongDate : March 28, 2025
China has become a pivotal actor in the Global South, reshaping the economic and development landscape. Its unique approach raises questions about the short- and long-term implications for economic development.
This workshop explores the causes and consequences of China’s economic engagement in the Global South, with a focus on its role in transforming economies, influencing global governance, and shaping development pathways. We aim to bring together scholars investigating the diverse impacts of these engagements.
The workshop is jointly organized by the Asia Global Institute at the University of Hong Kong, the Kiel Institute China Initiative, and the Center for Modern East Asian Studies at the University of Göttingen.
Further information and some photo highlights can be found here.
Homecoming 2024
After the great success of the first Homecoming, the second Homecoming will be hosted on September 27 and 28. This event brings together former and current academics, practitioners, and students from the Göttingen School of Development Economics to foster our community, exchange experiences and insights, and return once more to lovely Göttingen.We are looking forward to two days full of interesting discussion panels, presentations, and social activities. Moreover, we host a Career Market which will offer the opportunity to gain insights into practical work in the field of development.
We are excited to announce Professor Francisco H. G. Ferreira (LSE) as our keynote speaker who will hold the Stephan Klasen Lecture. Moreover, together with Sarah (Langlotz) and Lennart (Kaplan), we will host the Digital Development Dialogue (3D) on Friday afternoon. Our 3D-guests will be Axel Dreher (Heidelberg University) and Jochen Kluve (KfW). They will talk about Development Effectiveness in Times of Shifting Geopolitics.
More information on the registration can be found here.
You can find the full schedule here
Conference China in the Global Economy
Location: Leibniz Association, BerlinDate: June 27 and 28, 2024
Today, China stands as the world’s foremost exporter and a significant global investor. The Belt and Road Initiative, spanning over 150 countries, underscores China’s expansive reach through a network of infrastructure development and investment projects. Notably, China’s economic landscape is marked by the substantial involvement of the state in economic activities, development planning, and economic diplomacy—a departure from the norms observed in Europe and the United States. This intertwining of economic and geopolitical interests positions China as a key player in the realm of geoeconomics, leveraging its economic prowess to advance strategic objectives on the global stage. While there exists a mutual interest between China and the “West” in upholding the multilateral, rules-based global economic order, concerns grow among businesses and policymakers regarding unfair competition and restricted access to the Chinese market. Despite China’s escalating economic prominence, research intensity on its role in the global economy trails behind.
In cooperation with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), the University of Göttingen will hold the conference "China in the Global Economy", at the Leibniz Association in central Berlin. The conference will serve as a nexus for leading scholars delving into China’s multifaceted role in the global economy and will bring Nancy Qian (James J O'Connor Professor of Economics at Kellogg, Northwestern University) as keynote speaker. Papers can be submitted until April 7th and will cover a range of topics, including but not limited to: International trade and trade policy, Inward and outward direct investments, China’s geoeconomic strategy, Aid and government lending strategies, China’s influence on international economic governance structures, China’s engagements in Africa, Impacts and implications of China’s flagship-initiatives (such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Made in China 2025 Strategy), Environmental and climate challenges with China’s economic rise, Knowledge, innovation, and digitization, Growth prospects and spillover effects on the world economy, Historical foundations of China’s rise as a global economic power.
China in Africa Workshop
Location: University of GöttingenDate: September 5, 2023
In cooperation with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and the Göttingen Centre for Modern East Asian Studies, a one-day workshop was held on September 5, 2023, as part of the "China in Africa" project funded by the Leibniz Gesellschaft. Researchers from both institutions presented recent study results at this event, which focused on the economic and political consequences of China's activities on the African continent. The workshop provided an important platform for interdisciplinary exchange and discussion of this highly topical issue. The highlight of the workshop was a public lecture that addressed the opportunities of Chinese direct investment in Africa. The event provided an in-depth look at the evolving dynamics between China and Africa and fostered an understanding of the implications for the global economy and politics.
Presentation: Why does the Extreme Right Achieve so Little in Foreign Policy?
Location: University of GöttingenDate: April 12, 2023; 18:15 s.t.
Organizers: Anja Jetschke, Chair of International Relations; Andreas Fuchs, Chair of Development Economics
Presenter: Prof. Andrew Moravcsik, Princeton University
What concrete policy impact do extreme-right parties and their distinctive rhetoric have on democratic foreign policy? Controlled issue-by-issue investigation reveals that such impact is small and limited to narrow subsets of countries and issues. The modest impact of extreme-right parties and preferences can be explained as an adaption to enduring political constraints that all political parties face in foreign policy. Rather than adapting policy to their rhetoric, extreme-right parties far more often adapt rhetoric strategically to policy constraints—as illustrated by the experience of Germany, Italy, Hungary, Britain and even the US. In sum, in foreign policy such parties are "more bark than bite".
The 15th CEA (Europe) and 34th CEA (UK) 2023 Annual Conference "Sustainable Development in a Changing Era: China and the World"
Location: University of GöttingenDates: 14 - 16 July, 2023; 14 July: preconference workshop “Sustainable Food System”
Local organizers: Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Centre for Modern East Asian Studies (CeMEAS)
Co-organizers: CEA Europe/UK , University of Göttingen
Economic development in China and the world faces many challenges, including: COVID-19, conflicts, climate change, currency inflation and aging populations. After the 20th Party Congress in October 2022, China is shifting many of its policies to address these challenges. As we navigate a changing era characterized by technological advances like artificial intelligence, globalization, and shifting demographics, sustainable development is becoming more relevant as a guide for policy-making and business practices. Given this context, the conference's main focus is on sustainable development in China and the world. Submitted papers will cover a range of relevant topics, including but not limited to the following:
- Sustainable food system
- International trade and development
- Low carbon economy
- Food security
- Poverty reduction
Please send an extended abstract of two pages and/or a full paper, as well as a short bio by 15 April 2023 to cea@uni-goettingen.de. For further information on submission of papers, registration and fees, please visit this page.
Lecture Series: Global China Conversations
Location: onlineDates: ongoing (monthly)
Organizers: Andreas Fuchs, Wan-Hsin Liu, Dietmar Baetge, Vera Eichenauer
The Global China Conversations provide a 60-minute online discussion forum that fosters the exchange of ideas between research and practice. The Conversations are hosted by the Kiel Institute China Initiative in cooperation with the Centre for Modern East Asian Studies (CeMEAS) at the University of Göttingen, KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zürich, and Wildau Technical University of Applied Sciences. Our invited speakers – academics, policymakers, and practitioners – present their insights on key issues related to China’s growing role in the world economy and the implications for German and European businesses and policy making. The Conversations offer a research-based discussion forum to exchange views and experiences on Europe-China economic relations.
SUR Dialogues
Location: University of GöttingenDates: October 25 - November 22, 2022
Organizers: Laura Barros, Samuel Siewers
For further information, please see the Sur Dialogues website.
17th Annual Workshop of the Households in Conflict Network
Location: University of GöttingenDates: 11 - 12 October, 2021
Main organizer: Dr. Sarah Langlotz
Local program committee: Andreas Fuchs, Marcela Ibáñez Díaz, Lennart Kaplan, Krisztina Kis-Katos
For further information, please see the conference page and the program.
Lecture Series: China's Economic Rise - Political Transformations in Asia and Beyond
Location: onlineDates: January 14 - April 1, 2021
Organizers: Andreas Fuchs, Anja Jetschke
The Centre for Modern East Asian Studies (CeMEAS) at the University of Göttingen and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) are hosting a lecture series on China's economic rise from January to April 2021. The series is organized by Andreas Fuchs and Anja Jetschke and brings together leading national and international scholars. The series program is available here.
Development Economics Poster Workshop
Location: University of GöttingenDate: November 15, 2019; 16:00 - 18:00 s.t.
Organizers: Andreas Fuchs, Samuel Siewers
Prof. Dr. Stephan Klasen gave his Farewell Lecture at the University of Göttingen on November 16, 2019. In the context of this ceremony, we organized a workshop on the day before the lecture to bring together some of Stephan Klasen’s former international Ph.D. students with the current research group in Development Economics at the University of Göttingen. The program is available here.
