Introduction to Chinese Economy (3cr)

Objectives (course unit)

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to China's economy. It is designed for learners seeking a foundational understanding of the key factors that influence China's domestic economy within a global context. By the end of the course, participants will have gained essential knowledge about the drivers behind China's remarkable growth as well as the reasons for its current challenges. The course begins with an overview of China's economic development path and the basic characteristics of its domestic economy. Subsequent topics explore the role of the party-state in the economy, the engines of China's economic growth—including trade, investment, and consumption—and issues that have a fundamental impact on China's economy, such as economic geography and demographic changes. Participants will also become familiar with primary sources of information on the Chinese economy, enabling them to continue their engagement and learning even after completing the course.

Content (course unit)

The course has five thematic modules: 1. History and legacies 2. Overview of China's domestic economy 3. Trade, investments and consumption 4. Economic geography and demography 5. Role of the party-state in the economy

Assessment scale

0-5

Learning materials

The core materials consist of short (20 min) recorded lectures and slide decks that are prepared by leading European experts on China. In addition, the versatile learning materials include timelines, infographics, podcasts and open access online materials. Learners will also get acquainted with central sources of information about China, including selected Chinese webpages.

Further information

REGISTRATION Students from the University of Turku, and the other member universities of the Finnish University Network for Asian Studies can register for this course through the Peppi or Sisu systems. This course is on-going until the end of the 2026. In the study system, please enroll in the course period during which you intend to complete the course. Credits will be registered after the end of each course period. STARTING THE COURSE You may begin the course independently at any time – no separate invitation from the teacher is required. To access the course site, go to https://digicampus.fi and search for the course by name. Log in using Haka Login and the username provided by your university. No course password is required. The development of the course is funded by the EU-project “ReConnect China” and it’s executed by the Centre for East Asian Studies (CEAS) of the University of Turku. The course is offered through the Finnish University Network for Asian Studies https://asianet.fi/.