EF4461 Contemporary Economic and Financial Issues in China

Part I Course Duration: One Semester Credit Units: 3 Level: B4 Medium of Instruction: English Prerequisites: Nil Precursors: CB2400 Economics I or FB2400 Economics I EF2401 Economics II or FB2401 Economics II Equivalent Courses: EF4150 Financing China Trade and Investment Exclusive Courses: Nil Part II Course Aims: The aim of this course is to enhance students’ knowledge, standard and understanding of the economic and financial issues in the contemporary Chinese economy. Students are also expected to investigate in detail the status of key economic and financial issues and to associate the importance of different economic areas in the Chinese economy. To enhance discovery and innovation learning, it is crucial for students to relate the contemporary Chinese economy to the Hong Kong economy, and to project and postulate the growth path and trend of the Chinese economy. The lecture and tutorials will provide students with basic understanding of the theories and models regarding the Asia Pacific economy, as well as motivate students’ discovery learning and innovative thinking. The group project of Country Risk Analysis and the debate/ presentation on it will develop students’ ability to apply theories and models to the current issues and evaluate the economic well-being of a country. Their accomplishments of discovery and innovative learning will be reflected by the project report and debate/presentation. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to: No. CILOs Weighting (if applicable) 1. Understand in detail the status of key economic and financial issues in the context of China’s economic reform; discover the interrelations between theories and their applications. 35% 2. Understand and associate the importance of different economic areas in the Chinese economy; make decisions based on in-depth reflection, criticism, and assessment. 35% 3. Identify the opportunities and relate the contemporary Chinese economy to the Hong Kong economy; make use of the information they learn from the lecture and information from database and analyst reports to examine the real issues in China and develop their problem solving skills. 15% 4. Explain current problems and issues and to project and postulate the growth path and trend of the Chinese economy; build up their attitude and ability to discover and innovate as they make projections on the future of the Chinese economy. 15% Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs) (Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to facilitate students’ achievement of the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course) CILO No. TLAs Functions CILO 1 Lectures Provide concepts and knowledge. Students are encouraged to interact with the lecturer to better understand what they learn in class. CILO 2 Tutorials Articles and data on the mainland Chinese economy are distributed in advanced. Students are required to read and discuss these materials in tutorials to get a better understanding of the current issues. A film show will be set up shown during the semester. Group presentations will be arranged. This is important in order to develop students’ attitude and ability to innovate and discover, by enhancing students’ learning and understanding of lecture materials and motivate active thinking and participation. CILO 3 CILO 4 Economic Analysis Project Peer evaluation: students are required to give comments on their team members in terms of their contributions to the group project near the end of semester. This practice avoids the free-rider problem. Students will form small groups of up to three members and apply the models and theories they learned and integrate the data consolidation to analyze the region economy in China. Activities include: Students are asked to select and discuss one economic aspect from mainland China; Collect relevant data for a period of time; Read up materials related to the data collected; Analyse the data by applying the knowledge they learn; Make a presentation in the tutorial and submit a semester report. Students will practice the use of computer software and database such as CEIC Database. They are also encouraged to read country reports from government bodies or major financial institutions. The final report will reveal the students’ accomplishment of discovery and innovative practice. Students’ ability to discover and innovate is also improved by acquiring the skills and ability in analyzing independently the economic performance of a region. In-class presentation will be followed, to enhance students’ independent understanding and learning of a selected region in China as a case study, and to familiarize students with contemporary economic issues in China within the context of the global economy. Assessment Tasks/Activities (Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course) CILO No. Type of Assessment Tasks/Activities Weighting (if applicable) Remarks CILO 1 CILO 2 Examination (2 hours) 70% Extra reward /penalty are given to good / poor attendance. Peer review will be conducted in students’ presentation. CILO 3 CILO 4 Semester project 30% The final examination contains both multiple choice questions and essay questions. The essay questions will help students integrate theories and concepts and develop students’ problem solving skills. This reflects students’ accomplishments in discovery and innovation. The project will be based on current issues and will develop students’ ability to make use of relevant information for analysis. Summary of how DEC is incorporated in Assessment Tasks, and Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs) DEC Elements Assessment Tasks and TLAs Develop students’ attitude to discover and innovate Lectures In-class discussions of articles in tutorial Develop students’ abilities to discover and innovate, reveal students’ accomplishments in Discovery and Innovation Group project: report and presentation Accomplishments of Discovery and Innovation Final Exams Grading of Student Achievement: Letter Grade Grade Point Grade Definitions Remarks A+ A A- 4.3 4.0 3.7 Excellent Strong evidence of knowledge on the economic background and development in the China economy; clear demonstration on economic concepts; understand and able to apply concepts. Students have demonstrated very strong overall ability to discover and innovate, and shown very strong evidence of accomplishments of discovery. B+ B B- 3.3 3.0 2.7 Good Evidence of knowing how to apply economic concepts to the China economy; understanding the complexity of financial, trade and economic development in the China economy. Students have demonstrated strong overall ability to discover and innovate, and shown strong evidence of accomplishments of discovery. C+ C C- 2.3 2.0 1.7 Adequate Some evidence of knowing how to apply concepts to the understanding of economics in the China economy. Students have demonstrated some ability to discover and innovate, and shown satisfactory evidence of accomplishments of discovery. D 1.0 Marginal Basic familiarity with the subject matter in examinations but bare satisfactory performance in semester project. Students have demonstrated marginal ability to discover and innovate, and shown marginal evidence of accomplishments of discovery. F 0.0 Failure Inadequate evidence of familiarity with the subject matter in all forms of assessment methods. Students have demonstrated little evidence of ability to discover and innovate, and shown little evidence of accomplishments of discovery. Part III Keyword Syllabus: Topics to cover in the course 1. The Chinese economy in the pre-reform years. 2. Economic Management and Fiscal Discipline. 3. Money and Banking. 4. Financial Liberalization. 5. Growth, Capital Accumulation and Economic Efficiency. 6. Securities Markets. 7. Rural Reform and Agriculture. 8. State and non-state sectors. 9. Trade, WTO, Foreign Exchange and Reserve. 10. Foreign Direct Investment. 11. Socio-Economic Issues. 12. Role of Hong Kong and Financial Crisis. 13. The Next Stage of Economic Reform.