Labor Economics of China. 2004, Vol. 1, No. 1

Author: Wang Dewen, Zhang Jianwu, Du Yang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The China Labor Economics was jointly launched by the Institute of Population and Labor Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the School of Economics and Management, South China Normal University. This book provides a new platform for experts, scholars, and individuals interested in the development of Chinese labor economics. Labor economics is a discipline encompassing rich research content. Among various fields of economics, labor economics is arguably the one closest to people's livelihood: education during youth, employment after adulthood, and pensions during old age are all topics of concern to labor economics. Currently, many hot topics related to people's daily lives and events affecting the interests of the general public are also key research areas for labor economists. Due to China's unique national conditions and specific stage of development, each field of labor economics holds significant importance for contemporary China.
First, China is a populous nation. Its abundant labor resources are both a comparative advantage in international competition and a major challenge in its development process. If we successfully address this challenge, we will seize development opportunities for the next few decades; otherwise, improper handling of population pressure may trap us in a "balanced trap" in the future. Transforming population pressure into a resource advantage is undoubtedly a question that every person concerned with Chinese labor economics must ponder.
Second, China is a rapidly developing country. However, the increase in economic output is only one aspect of development. The desired model is one where more people can enjoy the fruits of development and progress as a society. Conversely, if economic growth is accompanied by the widening of regional, urban-rural, and individual income gaps, as well as the increase of relative or even absolute poverty, then such a development model clearly deviates from our original intentions.
Additionally, China is undergoing an economic transformation. Breaking away from the planned economy system is no easy task, and the reform process is often painful. The construction of labor market institutions is no exception, and establishing a new system suited to China's national conditions in a country with unlimited labor supply is particularly challenging. As a result, scholars dedicated to Chinese labor economics research bear an even greater mission. Because the transformation of China's labor market not only holds the potential for new theoretical innovations but, more importantly, its institutional design will affect the welfare of the world's largest population.
Precisely because the research fields of Chinese labor economics are so rich, vibrant, and challenging, we believe it is essential to provide a platform for Chinese labor economists to explore, innovate, exchange wisdom, and contribute to society. This is also the fundamental aspiration of China Labor Economics. Theoretical research in economics often grows alongside the real economy. Since the birth of modern economics, the center of economic research has shifted with the changing economic centers of the world. Although China's economy is developing rapidly, it is far from being the center of the global economy, and Chinese economists also have a long way to go. Therefore, promoting the development of labor economics as a discipline will also be a significant mission of China Labor Economics.
Just as China's economy under reform needs to absorb the fruits of global civilization, Chinese labor economics research must also learn from advanced theories and methods abroad. Among these, the research methods of normative labor economics are an urgent priority. Only by focusing on practical topics, conducting field research, and employing scientific analytical tools can our research truly uncover hidden truths and provide profound insights. Undoubtedly, foreign economists in this field have not only taken the lead but also achieved great success. Actively absorbing advanced theories and scientific methods from abroad will be one of the important tasks of China Labor Economics.
At the same time, China Labor Economics will also contribute its efforts to promoting the standardization of labor economics research in China. China Labor Economics will adopt a double-blind peer-review system. Implementing this system is not only necessary for standardizing the behavior of the journal itself but also provides an important channel for communication among peers. By fostering a healthy academic critique environment, we hope to promote the growth of China Labor Economics.
A Western economist once conducted a statistical analysis of papers published in over ten of the most important economics journals in recent years. The results showed that, when categorized by discipline, labor economics literature ranked third among all fields. This is sufficient to demonstrate the important role of labor economics in the development of modern economics. In contrast, the development of labor economics in China, though promising, has not yet reached the expected scale and level. Given this, this regularly published professional journal on labor economics is even more worth everyone's attention, care, and joint efforts.