COURSE OF STUDY, 18 CREDITS

POSC 381-07: Politics of Economic Development

(6 credits)

This course focuses on an examination of the policy choices made during the last ten years, examines the institutions that structure these decisions, and looks at the people most responsible. Students will learn how public policy decisions are made. This will include visits to (and meetings with members of) the most important institutions responsible for these decisions, such as the Bank of China, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the foreign trade ministries and a series of political organizations.

Instructor: Professor Grow

ECON/POSC 382-07: Chinese Economics in Transition

(6 credits)

In this analysis of the Chinese economic system and examination of the policies that have guided Chinese economic development, special emphasis is place on the changes that have occurred during the past ten years. After studying Chinese micro- and macro-economics policies, students will examine heavy and light industry, Chinese commercial organizations, rural industry, and agriculture. The group will visit factories, a rural farm, commercial enterprises, and special economic zones.

Instructor: Professor Prime

POSC 378-07: Chinese Social and Political Institutions

(3 credits)

An on-site examination of some of the important institutions that shape Chinese social, economic, and political life, this class meets once a week, spending an extended period in one institution for each meeting, learning how the institution works, and discussing how it affects Chinese economic and political activity. Past visits have included the Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the China Daily newspaper offices, a Chinese film studio and a new "theme park."

Instructors: Professors Grow and Prime

POSC 379-07: Chinese Decision-Making

(3 CREDITS)

As part of a joint assignment for both the Economics and Political Science courses listed above, students will participate in a group project that culminates in an extended policy-making simulation exercise. To prepare for this exercise, seminar participants will be divided into small groups. Each group will investigate in depth one aspect of the Chinese economy as the seminar visits enterprises, moves across Beijing, travels to different parts of China, and talks to citizens and officials

Instructor: Professor Grow

Extra, Non-Credit Courses

If there is a desire on the part of seminar members, we will organize specialized non-credit courses. In the past, these have included courses in Chinese calligraphy, TaiQi, martial arts, hiking and the like. Organization of these courses is completely dependent upon sufficient student interest and availability of Chinses instructors.

THE LOCATION

The seminar will have as its home base the campus of the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing. The campus is located in the embassy district of Beijing, a twenty minute drive from Tiananmen Square and China's most important government offices and economic agencies.

UIBE is China's most important school for training personnel, both undergraduate and graduate students, for work in China's ministries, banking institutions, and trade organizations. Most of UIBE's faculty speak English, and the school has superb relations with China's economic organizations and policy-making institutions. The UIBE campus is new and (by Chinese standards) modern. Most of the residence halls and classrooms have been constructed in the past ten years. The Chinese student body numbers about 2,500. Because of the students' interest in international business and economics, they are, as a group, unusually outgoing and cosmopolitan.

HOUSING

In Beijing, Carleton students and faculty will live on the UIBE campus, take part in UIBE activities and live, by and lard, in much the same manner as their Chineese counterparts. Carleton students will stay in double rooms in a residence hall on the campus of UIBE. They can take their meals in the university's student dining hall, but most will eat at one of the many small restaurants near the campus. A meal allowance is provided.

When the group travels in other Chinese cities as well as in Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, seminar members will stay in modest hotels and eat in local restaurants.

CHINESE STUDENTS

Each Carleton student will have a UIBE pen pal during the term before departure. On arrival in China these UIBE pen pals and Carleton students will share some social, cultural, athletic, and travel activities. The UIBE students might also introduce Carleton students to their friends and/or parents.