Current Chinese Economic Report Series – serie

With the rapid growth of global industrialization, there has been substantial consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas along with growing carbon dioxide emissions. Unprecedented environmental and ecological crisis clouded the world. Fortunately, the Climate Conference in Copenhagen signaled hope amid the sluggish global economic recovery. Countries worldwide have been braced for developing their scientific and industrial strategies in the era of post financial crisis with a green and low-carbon philosophy. In 2008, the UN unveiled a plan for green politics and green economy, which is well-received and carried out by countries worldwide.China’s 30-year rapid economic development has attracted worldwide attention. However, how to develop in a sustainable manner when faced with acute contradictions between economic growth, resources and environment has posed great challenges to China. Therefore, it is of great significance for us to speed up the study of green development and find a rational growth model. This study is completed by Prof. Li Xiaoxi and the dedication of other leading thinkers in economics, management, environment and resources together with the help of China Economic Monitoring and Analysis Center (CEMA).

This present report, as a second volume of the series entitled “Contemporary Logistics in China: an Introduction,” follows the same general conceptual organization, yet with updated analysis and discussion of logistics development, under the backdrop of the aftermath of the international financial crisis, the acceleration of the transformation of development mode and the strategic adjustment of the economic structure.

While logistics has caught on as a vital component in China’s national development plan, both government agencies at all levels and various types of enterprises have put considerable effort into propelling logistics to a new height.  Recent logistics developments in China have witnessed a scene of significant boom dotted with few sporadic dips. This book, the third volume in the series on “Contemporary Logistics in China,” is a must-read publication, which affords the readers a clearer view of the intrinsic consolidation and  increased efforts made amid the recent advancements in China’s logistics development. The research findings in this book reflect the expertise and diligence of a team of learned researchers in the highly-regarded Logistics Research Center at Nankai University. The book presents a comprehensive and thorough analysis of the progression and propagation of modern logistics in China, as well as a fresh look at some emerging hot issues with potential bearings on future logistics development. Researchers and practicing professionals alike will find this book an indispensable and timely reference and information resource.

This present report, as a second volume of the series entitled “Contemporary Logistics in China: an Introduction,” follows the same general conceptual organization, yet with updated analysis and discussion of logistics development, under the backdrop of the aftermath of the international financial crisis, the acceleration of the transformation of development mode and the strategic adjustment of the economic structure.

Owing to the decline in domestic investment and trade with the rest of the world, China’s real GDP in the first half of 2012 was lower than expected. Based on forecasts from China’s Quarterly Macroeconomic Model (CQMM), the slowdown of the growth rate in 2013 will be moderate as a result of modestly proactive macro control policy. GDP would grow at 8.01 percent in 2012, and then rebound to 8.29 in 2013; CPI would fall to a 2.9 percent in 2012, and then would pick up to 3.27 percent in 2013. In the scenario in which the sovereign debt crisis in the euro area worsened in the second half of 2012, real GDP is forecast at 7.71 percent for 2012 and 7.5 percent for 2013. Even if the external economic environment becomes worse, China’s growth is expected to stay at above 7.5 percent, which might be a steady growth rate for the near future. If China plans to achieve a higher growth rate by launching the “2 trillion massive investment package”, the growth rate of GDP could be increased to 8.25 and 8.86 percent in 2012 and 2013 with a risk of inflation and worsening economic structure. The policy implication from CQMM: on one hand the Chinese government should be able to maintain the growth rate of around 8 percent by means of timely fine-tuning of monetary policies; on the other hand, the emphasis of the micro control should be placed on structural adjustments through fiscal policies. In the long run, deepening economic, social and institutional reform will be crucial to remove the significant structural imbalance and institutional barriers to market competition, to accelerate the transformation of economic development patterns, and finally to maintain a sustainable growth rate.

With the rapid growth of global industrialization, there has been substantial consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas along with growing carbon dioxide emissions. Unprecedented environmental and ecological crisis clouded the world. Fortunately, the Climate Conference in Copenhagen signaled hope amid the sluggish global economic recovery. Countries worldwide have been braced for developing their scientific and industrial strategies in the era of post financial crisis with a green and low-carbon philosophy. In 2008, the UN unveiled a plan for green politics and green economy, which is well-received and carried out by countries worldwide.China’s 30-year rapid economic development has attracted worldwide attention. However, how to develop in a sustainable manner when faced with acute contradictions between economic growth, resources and environment has posed great challenges to China. Therefore, it is of great significance for us to speed up the study of green development and find a rational growth model. This study is completed by Prof. Li Xiaoxi and the dedication of other leading thinkers in economics, management, environment and resources together with the help of China Economic Monitoring and Analysis Center (CEMA).

The report was launched during China’s Twelfth Five-year Period (2011-2015). After revising the measurement system of the Green Development Index 2011, the report measures the green development level of 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions as well as 38 large and medium-sized cities in China. A Public Satisfaction Survey of the Urban Residents is first introduced into the report. Both the province and the city Green Development Index systems consist of three parts, the green degree of economic growth, the carrying potential of natural resources and environment, and the support degree of government policies. The three parts reflect the production and resource usage efficiency, the situation of environment and resources protection and pollutants emission, and government’s related investment and management respectively. The China Green Development Index Report 2012 has the comprehensive evaluation of the green economy development in China and its importance to China’s rational development and switch in economic development model.

As the sluggish external market demand and excess domestic investment in past years have caused excess production capacity, resulting in both industrial growth rate and GDP growth rate falling to lowest point for the last three years in China. Where would China’s economy go? China’s Macroeconomic Outlook, September 2013 provides some insights into the details of the economic development in China, and also includes series of simulations of the impact of decreasing government revenue on the economic performance. The research suggests that China should cut its government revenue share in GDP to promote its structural adjustment.

This book explores the environmental competitiveness of 133 countries around the world, presenting an index evaluation system to facilitate a comparative analysis of environmental competitiveness on a global scale. This is a new way to measure competitiveness in the light of the contradiction between world economic development and environmental protection. Global environmental competitiveness covers five aspects: the ecological environment, resources environment, environmental management, environmental impacts and environmental coordination. The authors use longitudinal study and horizontal analysis, combining qualitative and quantitative analysis methods so as to conduct an in-depth study of theoretical, empirical and methodological issues of global environmental competitiveness.The work is presented here in three main parts beginning with the theory, technical road-map and analytical approach used. The second part reports on the countries as evaluation objects, analyzing the development status of global environmental competitiveness as a whole and revealing the strengths and weaknesses of each country’s environmental competitiveness. Basic paths and strategies to enhance the competitiveness level are presented. In the third part the reader will discover a sub-report and evaluation of the environmental competitiveness for 133 countries around the world, revealing the characteristics and relative differences of countries representing different levels of development, in order to provide an important decision-making reference to those considering environmental economic policies, especially those considering accelerating a green economic transformation and enhancing environmental competitiveness.This book will appeal to scholars and professionals with an interest in environmental issues and environmental competitiveness at a global level, as well as those with an interest in each of the 133 countries analyzed in this text, including environmental policy makers in those countries.

This book gives a systematic exposition of China’s logistics development to the English-reading community. The ultimate goal of the book is to present a timely portrayal of China’s logistics market growth and the evolution status of China’s logistics industry. Being the fourth volume of the “Contemporary Logistics in China”, the book strives to offer in-depth analysis on some hot issues and dilemmas amid the on going dynamic and multi-faceted development and also a source of reference for interested readers in academic and professional fields.

This exhaustive survey assesses the performance of the United Nations and its member states in all key areas, at the same time as laying down a road map for sustainable development in the future. Deploying the Human Green Development Index as a new metric for an era in which human survival is intimately dependent on the viability of the Earth as a clean and sustainable habitat, the report showcases a vast array of data, including HGDI indicators for more than 120 nations. It provides a detailed and comparative rationale for the selection of data for the 12 goals and 54 HGDI targets, which cover human and global needs into the future. The index measures 12 Sustainable Development Goals, based on but also extending the eight Millennium Development Goals defined in 2000. The SDGs, proposed by a high-level UN panel, will supersede MDGs in 2015. They focus on ending poverty, achieving gender equality, providing quality education for all, helping people live healthy lives, securing sustainable energy use, and creating jobs offering sustainable livelihoods. They also work towards equitable growth, stable and peaceful societies, greater efficiency in governance, and closer international cooperation. With indicators covering everything from air particulates to percentage of threatened animal species in a nation’s total, and informed by the latest research (with inequality-adjusted metrics for amenities such as education and healthcare), this comprehensive study offers readers not only a wealth of valuable core data, but also a well-argued rationale for using the HGDI. In today’s world, we cannot view our development as being distinct from, and unaffected by, that of the Earth we inhabit, or that of our planetary cohabitees.

With its easy-to-use format, this book provides a collection of annual data on China’s 56 ethnic groups. It is a resource book that profiles the demography, employment and wages, livelihood, agriculture, industry, education, science and technology, culture, sports, and public health for each of these ethnic groups. This material, which is compiled from a variety of sources, will be of great value to researchers, businesses, government agencies, and news media. In this book, data are presented on an ethnic group-by-ethnic group basis, and the ethnic groups are ordered alphabetically, from the Achang to the Zhuang. Though most of the data are as of 2011 – the latest year when our research was conducted, we also provide some historical data for a few of indicators. This is intended to help readers to conduct time-series comparisons and analyses.

This book is compiled based on the research methodology and technical approach applied in the Blue Book of Corporate Social Responsibility. It consists of five parts: Summary, index, Industry, Case Studies, and Appendices. The index evaluates Chinese enterprises annually on their performance in CSR management and the level of information disclosure by assessing four different aspects: responsibility management, economic responsibilities, social responsibilities and environmental responsibilities. Moreover, it identifies and analyzes phase-specific characteristics of CSR development in China in the hope of providing references for further studies on Chinese CSR.

This book is a quarterly forecast and analysis report on the Chinese economy. It is published twice a year and presents ongoing result from the “China Quarterly Macroeconomic Model (CQMM),” a research project at the Center for Macroeconomic Research (CMR) at Xiamen University. Based on the CQMM model, the research team forecast major macroeconomic indicators for the next 8 quarters, including the rate of GDP growth, the CPI, fixed-asset investment, resident consumption and foreign trade. At the same time it focuses on simulation of current macroeconomic policies in China.  In addition to helping readers understand China’s economic trend and policy guide, this book has three main goals: to help readers understand China’s economic performance; to forecast the main macroeconomic indicators for the next 8 quarters; and to simulate the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies.

​This book  provides key insights into how to control local government debts and optimize the makeup of debts in China. The rapid growth of investment in infrastructure on the part of local governments has offset the slowdown of investment growth in manufacturing and real estate and maintained the growth rate of 7.7% in 2013. However, local governments’ debts have accumulated, which increases the risk of debt default and threatens the stability of China’s financial system. The research suggests that increasing the proportion of issuing bonds in total debts would be the first step toward eliminating the debt risk. Second, the Chinese government should play its part; and lastly, the government should relinquish its administrative control and monopoly in order to allow the service industry to further develop.

This book focuses on international relations in the Indian Ocean region and examines bilateral and multilateral relations in the Indo-Pacific region. Written by leading researchers in the fields of international studies and Indian Ocean studies, the report provides a strategic review, major events and related data in this region. It is divided into three major parts: the General Report examines new characteristics in the relations between great powers, the strategic landscape of South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, and strategic competition and multilateral relations in the Indo-Pacific region. The second part explores current bilateral relations: India-Myanmar, Sino-Myanmar, Sino-India, US-Myanmar, and Japan-Myanmar, while the third highlights issues such as Myanmar’s democratization, India and TPP. Despite the turmoil in this region, the report shows that it will predominantly be one characterized by peace, development and cooperation in the years to come. At the same time, it is vital that a new type of great power relations be established to ensure peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. In closing, the report puts forward a number of suggestions for improving relations between China and Indian Ocean countries.

This book mainly focuses on the status, trends and countermeasures of carrying capacity in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei metropolitan region. It presents the results a comprehensive survey and systematic research on the carrying capacity of this region and its mega-cities, conducted in the hope of providing decision-making support for the governments of this region. The primary goals are to be able to actively respond to the new challenges of global climate changes and environmental resource constraints; fully practice green development concepts; and actively promote transformation in the development of the population, resources, environment, economics, society and ecology in this region.

This book focuses on China’s urban development. In China, the process of allowing more rural migrants to become registered city residents in urban areas remains stagnant despite its importance to the Chinese government and the existence of a national consensus about it. Cities can compulsorily purchase land from farmers at low or even no costs, and most farmers, whose families have relied on the land to make a living for generations, do not profit from increases in land value. Breaking down the established distributive system of rights and privileges requires legislation and law enforcement. To this end, we need to break through the current pattern of interests and respect the "citizenization-relevant" rights of rural migrant workers.

This book, examining smart-city trends and developments from global, Chinese and EU perspectives, shows how the concept of the smart city varies from city to city. A detailed analysis is made to present the smart city as an up-to-date model of world city. Thirty pilot cities answer questions designed by the “Smart City Evaluation Framework,” including managerial entities, stakeholders, project description and performance and whatever else relates to smart cities. By assessing the answers, researchers reveal major trends, best practices and challenges confronting smart city campaigns. Recommendations and solutions are provided. This is a must-read for anyone wishing to understand Chinese and European cities in terms of ideas about city development, plausible practice, natural and geographic conditions, economic structure and infrastructure robustness. Innovation and updates in telecommunication technology is regarded as indicative of city intelligence and green, low-carbon and sustainable development. This innovative book offers an interdisciplinary perspective and shall be of interest to researchers, policy analysts and technical experts involved in and responsible for the planning, development and design of smart cities.

This book is a quarterly forecast and analysis report on the Chinese economy. It is published twice a year and presents ongoing result from the “China Quarterly Macroeconomic Model (CQMM),” a research project at the Center for Macroeconomic Research (CMR) at Xiamen University. Based on the CQMM model, the research team forecast major macroeconomic indicators for the next 8 quarters, including the rate of GDP growth, the CPI, fixed-asset investment, resident consumption and foreign trade. At the same time it focuses on simulation of current macroeconomic policies in China. In addition to helping readers understand China’s economic trend and policy guide, this book has three main goals: to help readers understand China’s economic performance; to forecast the main macroeconomic indicators for the next 8 quarters; and to simulate the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies.

This book carries on the ideal of providing a systematic exposition of the logistics development in China to the English-reading community at large in the spirit of the four predecessor volumes, published in previous years. This book is the fifth volume in a series entitled "Contemporary Logistics in China", authored by the researchers in Logistics Center at Nankai University. Specially, the opening chapter of this book presents a synopsis of the intent, the history, the framework, the topical coverage and the train of thought of the sequel in the latest five years. As the previous four volumes, our ultimate aim and desire is to present a timely portrayal of the rapid pace of growth of China’s logistics market and the status of its logistics industry’s evolution.

This book gives a systematic exposition of China’s logistics development to the English-reading community. The ultimate goal of the book is to present a timely portrayal of China’s logistics market growth and the evolution status of China’s logistics industry. Being the fourth volume of the “Contemporary Logistics in China”, the book strives to offer in-depth analysis on some hot issues and dilemmas amid the on going dynamic and multi-faceted development and also a source of reference for interested readers in academic and professional fields.

This book is a quarterly forecast and analysis report on the Chinese economy. It is published twice a year and presents ongoing result from the “China Quarterly Macroeconomic Model (CQMM),” a research project at the Center for Macroeconomic Research (CMR) at Xiamen University. Based on the CQMM model, the research team forecast major macroeconomic indicators for the next 8 quarters, including the rate of GDP growth, the CPI, fixed-asset investment, resident consumption and foreign trade. At the same time it focuses on simulation of current macroeconomic policies in China.  In addition to helping readers understand China’s economic trend and policy guide, this book has three main goals: to help readers understand China’s economic performance; to forecast the main macroeconomic indicators for the next 8 quarters; and to simulate the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies.

This book, examining smart-city trends and developments from global, Chinese and EU perspectives, shows how the concept of the smart city varies from city to city. A detailed analysis is made to present the smart city as an up-to-date model of world city. Thirty pilot cities answer questions designed by the “Smart City Evaluation Framework,” including managerial entities, stakeholders, project description and performance and whatever else relates to smart cities. By assessing the answers, researchers reveal major trends, best practices and challenges confronting smart city campaigns. Recommendations and solutions are provided. This is a must-read for anyone wishing to understand Chinese and European cities in terms of ideas about city development, plausible practice, natural and geographic conditions, economic structure and infrastructure robustness. Innovation and updates in telecommunication technology is regarded as indicative of city intelligence and green, low-carbon and sustainable development. This innovative book offers an interdisciplinary perspective and shall be of interest to researchers, policy analysts and technical experts involved in and responsible for the planning, development and design of smart cities.

This book carries on the ideal of providing a systematic exposition of the logistics development in China to the English-reading community at large in the spirit of the four predecessor volumes, published in previous years. This book is the fifth volume in a series entitled "Contemporary Logistics in China", authored by the researchers in Logistics Center at Nankai University. Specially, the opening chapter of this book presents a synopsis of the intent, the history, the framework, the topical coverage and the train of thought of the sequel in the latest five years. As the previous four volumes, our ultimate aim and desire is to present a timely portrayal of the rapid pace of growth of China’s logistics market and the status of its logistics industry’s evolution.

The report was launched during China’s Twelfth Five-year Period (2011-2015). After revising the measurement system of the Green Development Index 2011, the report measures the green development level of 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions as well as 38 large and medium-sized cities in China. A Public Satisfaction Survey of the Urban Residents is first introduced into the report. Both the province and the city Green Development Index systems consist of three parts, the green degree of economic growth, the carrying potential of natural resources and environment, and the support degree of government policies. The three parts reflect the production and resource usage efficiency, the situation of environment and resources protection and pollutants emission, and government’s related investment and management respectively. The China Green Development Index Report 2012 has the comprehensive evaluation of the green economy development in China and its importance to China’s rational development and switch in economic development model.

This book is compiled based on the research methodology and technical approach applied in the Blue Book of Corporate Social Responsibility. It consists of five parts: Summary, index, Industry, Case Studies, and Appendices. The index evaluates Chinese enterprises annually on their performance in CSR management and the level of information disclosure by assessing four different aspects: responsibility management, economic responsibilities, social responsibilities and environmental responsibilities. Moreover, it identifies and analyzes phase-specific characteristics of CSR development in China in the hope of providing references for further studies on Chinese CSR.

This book mainly focuses on the status, trends and countermeasures of carrying capacity in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei metropolitan region. It presents the results a comprehensive survey and systematic research on the carrying capacity of this region and its mega-cities, conducted in the hope of providing decision-making support for the governments of this region. The primary goals are to be able to actively respond to the new challenges of global climate changes and environmental resource constraints; fully practice green development concepts; and actively promote transformation in the development of the population, resources, environment, economics, society and ecology in this region.

This exhaustive survey assesses the performance of the United Nations and its member states in all key areas, at the same time as laying down a road map for sustainable development in the future. Deploying the Human Green Development Index as a new metric for an era in which human survival is intimately dependent on the viability of the Earth as a clean and sustainable habitat, the report showcases a vast array of data, including HGDI indicators for more than 120 nations. It provides a detailed and comparative rationale for the selection of data for the 12 goals and 54 HGDI targets, which cover human and global needs into the future. The index measures 12 Sustainable Development Goals, based on but also extending the eight Millennium Development Goals defined in 2000. The SDGs, proposed by a high-level UN panel, will supersede MDGs in 2015. They focus on ending poverty, achieving gender equality, providing quality education for all, helping people live healthy lives, securing sustainable energy use, and creating jobs offering sustainable livelihoods. They also work towards equitable growth, stable and peaceful societies, greater efficiency in governance, and closer international cooperation. With indicators covering everything from air particulates to percentage of threatened animal species in a nation’s total, and informed by the latest research (with inequality-adjusted metrics for amenities such as education and healthcare), this comprehensive study offers readers not only a wealth of valuable core data, but also a well-argued rationale for using the HGDI. In today’s world, we cannot view our development as being distinct from, and unaffected by, that of the Earth we inhabit, or that of our planetary cohabitees.