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).

We welcome submissions that cover various themes, 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 impact on global development
• 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
• Tracking China’s global reach with innovative data sources

Papers should be submitted as complete manuscripts, with extended abstracts considered only in exceptional cases. While authors may submit multiple papers, each participant can present only one paper at the conference. The conference will be held in person, with each paper allocated 35 minutes. If you require funding for your trip, please indicate this when submitting your paper. CEPR Travel guidelines apply.

ORGANIZERS
Andreas Fuchs (University of Göttingen, Kiel Institute)

Lei Li (University of Göttingen)

Wan-Hsin Liu (Kiel Institute, Kiel Centre for Globalization)

Moritz Schularick (Kiel Institute, Sciences Po, CEPR)

Christoph Trebesch (Kiel Institute, CEPR)

Andreas Fuchs is grateful for financial support by the VolkswagenStiftung in the framework of the Momentum project “Tapping innovative data sources to analyze the impact of authoritarian states on global development.”

HOW TO APPLY

All instructions how to apply can be found under the following link: Submission 

The submission deadline is Monday, April 10, 2025, 6 PM (CEST), 5 PM (BST), 12 PM (EST).