ECONOMICS OPTION
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Option Aims & Careers
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Since 1979 China has been following a new development strategy which 
emphasizes the role of improving productivity and strengthening 
external economic relations.  To implement this strategy, China is in 
the process of reforming her system of economic administration.  This 
involves generally giving greater autonomy to local authorities and 
basic economic units, and a greater use of market mechanisms to 
regulate and coordinate economic activities, and to enlarge consumer 
choice.  These changes are in recognition of past problems and 
defects in China's socialist economic development.  Theoretical work 
has been carried out to justify and guide the reforms, and policies 
have been adjusted frequently in response to problems which have 
emerged during the reform process.  For both traders and researchers 
concerned with China, a sound understanding of China's administration 
system and development strategies has become increasingly important.  
Hong Kong business and other institutions with interests in China 
have become particularly keen to recruit economists with expertise in 
Chinese economy, both to help formulate trade and investment 
decisions and to advise on the Chinese macro context.

The Economics Option of the BSocSc (Hons) in China Studies aims to 
meet a growing need for a programme oriented towards the Chinese 
economy.


Option Curriculum
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Economics, as taught in most university programmes, is a highly 
sequential discipline, proceeding from a core of theory and 
quantitative skills on to empirical applications.  The Economics 
Option curriculum preserves this basic structure for its academic 
integrity: the theoretical component is carefully chosen for its 
applicability to subjects which serve either as prerequisite(s) for 
subjects on Chinese economy, or are relevant to themes of the Chinese 
economy.  Quantitative methods and research methodology are taught in 
the first year to provide a background for later empirical 
applications.  The three required subjects - Foundations of the 
Chinese Economy, Rural Economic Development in China, and Economic 
Administration in China - provide students with a basis for 
understanding the functioning of the Chinese national economy.  Built 
on these foundations, elective subjects covering the most important 
aspects of the Chinese economy are offered for students to select as 
their areas of concentration for more specialized study.

The study plan is as follows:

Year 1  Computer Literacy, Principles of Economics, Mathematics for 
	Economists, English for Academic Purposes, Putonghua for 
	Academic Purposes, Foundations of Political Science, 
	Ideology & Socialism in China, Statistical Methods for 
	Social Sciences, Man & the Physical Environment, 
	Perspectives on Chinese History, Introduction of Sociology.

Year 2  Government & Politics of China, Intermediate Economic 
	Theory, Applied Econometrics, Economic Planning, 
	Foundations of Chinese Economy, Regional Geography of 
	China, Foundations of Modern China, Writing Skills in 
	Modern Chinese, Modern Chinese Society, Religion & 
	Philosophy Subjects.

Year 3  International Economics, Economic Administration in China, 
	Comparative Economic Systems, Rural Economic Development in 
	China, Project, Economic Development, Religion & Philosophy 
	Subject.  One of the following: Money & Banking, Industrial 
	Economics, Public Finance.  Two of the following:  China's 
	Foreign Economics Relations & Trade, Industrial Management 
	& Development in China, Money & Finance in China.

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