Can China Shift Successfully from an Export-Led to a Consumption Economy?
About this Event
A Seminar with Dr. Bo Chen | Seminar 2 of 2 : The China Economy Seminar Series
Event Overview
The Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies at SFU's Beedie School of Business is pleased to host the second of a two-part seminar series featuring Dr. Bo Chen, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Economic Cluster at the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore, and a Distinguished Fellow at the Jack Austin Centre.
In this seminar, Dr. Chen will assess how far China has come in rebalancing its economy, what stands in the way, and what it means for the decade ahead.
China's transition from an export-led to a consumption-driven economy has become one of the defining questions for both policymakers and global businesses. Although Beijing has identified domestic demand as the long-term engine of sustainable growth for nearly two decades, progress has been slower than expected.
Whether China becomes a consumption-driven economy matters well beyond its borders. For Canadian exporters, investors, and policymakers, the answer shapes what China represents as a market over the coming decade.
The Seminar Will Cover
- Why the obstacles are institutional rather than conceptual: A development model shaped by local government incentives, fiscal arrangements, industrial policy, and a financial system that favors production and investment, which continues to reward manufacturing expansion over household consumption.
- What is driving the urgency: Geopolitical tensions, demographic ageing, and diminishing returns to investment.
- Whether the transition can succeed: An assessment of China's prospects, and the key reforms required to strengthen household purchasing power.
- What this means for business and the global economy: The implications for businesses, investors, and the global economy over the coming decade.
Registration Details
- Location: Room 2300, Segal Building, 500 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1W6
- Admission: Free | Light Lunch will be provided
- Registration: Registration closes on September 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PDT
About the Speaker
Dr. Bo Chen
Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Economic Cluster, East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore
Bo Chen (PhD, Simon Fraser University) is a Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Economic Cluster at the East Asian Institute (EAI), National University of Singapore (NUS). His research at EAI focuses on international trade policies, China’s economy and its economic and policy impacts on Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore, as well as on the global economy. He regularly provides policy briefings to the Singapore government on trade related issues, developments in China’s economy and regional economic dynamics.
He is a Research Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and a Distinguished Fellow at the Jack Austin Centre. He previously served as a Distinguished Professor at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China). He has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles in leading economics journals, including Journal of International Economics, Journal of Comparative Economics, Economics Letters, and The World Economy.
About the Organizers
The Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies at SFU's Beedie School of Business fosters greater understanding between Canada and the Asia-Pacific region through education, research, and dialogue. Led by Dr. Jing Li, Professor of International Business and Director of the Centre, it serves as a hub for collaboration among academia, government, and industry, and leads initiatives such as the LINC Asia Micro-credential Program
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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