January 13, 2021

ChinaTalk with David Dollar (Brookings Institution)

55 minutes

Over the past 40 years, China has undergone an economic metamorphosis “from rags to riches”. However, the road to success was not easy. In its extraordinary history, China experienced failure, sudden changes in policy, and political system challenges. The rapid economic growth has carried with it huge economic and social costs. Are the structural reforms of the Xi Jinping era failures or successes? Is there a good replacement for the so-called “Flying geese” pattern, i.e. the export-led development model? Can China avoid the middle-income trap? What international challenges does China face and what conclusions should the country draw from its development to date?

During the upcoming ChinaTalk meeting, we will talk with David Dollar from Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. We will discuss structural reforms in China, which remain an extremely important issue, especially now, when the country is competing for the role of the economic world leader. The meeting will be hosted by Associate Professor Marcin Jacoby, Department of Asian Studies at SWPS University at SWPS University, and Zbigniew Niesiobędzki, Ph.D., President of the Polish-Chinese Business Council - a partner of the ChinaTalk series.

About „ChinaTalk” series

ChinaTalk is a series of interviews with leading global experts on China and East Asia, produced jointly by the Polish Chinese Business Council (PCBC) and SWPS University. Interviews are hosted by PCBC President, Mr. Zbigniew Niesiobędzki, and Professor Marcin Jacoby, Head of the Department of Asian Studies at SWPS University.

ChinaTalk brings you the latest knowledge on the economy, social issues, management, and politics of China and East Asia. Our guest interpret the current developments and trends in the Chinese economy, and predict global, regional and bilateral outcomes of political decisions. Chinese relations with the European Union, and Poland in particular, constitute an important context of these discussions. The expert insights provide valuable input for business practitioners, analysts, as well as researchers and students interested in macroeconomics and global trade.

David Dollar

Is a senior fellow in the China Center at the Brookings Institution and host of the Dollar & Sense podcast on international trade. He is a leading expert on Asian economies and U.S. relations with Asia. His most recent book is China 2049, co-authored with economists from Peking University. From 2009 to 2013 he was the U.S. Treasury's economic and financial emissary to China, based in Beijing. Before his time at Treasury, Dollar worked at the World Bank for 20 years. He was the country economist for Vietnam during 1989-1995, a period of intense reform and adjustment. From 1995 to 2004, Dollar worked in the World Bank’s research department and published articles on trade and growth, economic reform in the developing world, and aid effectiveness. From 2004 to 2009 he was country director for China and Mongolia. Prior to his World Bank career, Dollar was an assistant professor of economics at UCLA, spending a semester in Beijing teaching at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He has a Ph.D. in economics from NYU and a BA in Asian studies from Dartmouth College.

Prof. Marcin Jacoby

Sinologist, translator, expert on socio-political processes in East Asia, particularly China and Republic of Korea. He is also Head of the Department of Asian Studies at SWPS University, where he teaches literature, art, and cultural diplomacy in China and East Asian.

Zbigniew Niesiobędzki, Ph.D.

Economist with a career associated with investment funds. Over the years, he worked for Deloitte, and served as board member and member of supervisory boards of many companies in the telecommunications, construction, and furniture sectors. Currently, he is President of the Polish Chinese Business Council.

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