Ari Kokko, professor, INT, CBS

Robert Boyer, professor, National Center for Scientific Research, France, currently visiting at CBP, CBS

There is much uncertainty about the current nature of economic growth in China. On the one hand, there are reports that earlier studies have underestimated the role of productivity growth in China (see http://www.economist.com/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=14844987 ) and Nobel Prize winner Robert Fogel has recently argued that China's GDP will reach 123 trillion by 2040, driven by a per capita income level that will be twice that of the EU (see http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/01/04/123000000000000 ). On the other hand, the current fiscal and financial stimulus is likely to result in substantial overcapacity in several fields, depressing TFP levels in the medium term.

The purpose of this seminar is to discuss the current situation in China and to relate it to the medium term trends in innovation, technology development, and R&D. Professor Ari Kokko will introduce the topic, and Professor Robert Boyer will discuss the development of the Chinese technological capability and the country's innovation system. The aim is to limit the presentations to one hour, leaving plenty of room for discussion and comments from seminar participants.