Chinese Labor Economics (2004, Vol. 1, Issue 1)

Author: Wang Dewen, Zhang Jianwu, Du Yang, Editors-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The Chinese Journal of Labor Economics was jointly launched by the Institute of Population and Labor Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the School of Economics and Management at 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 livelihoods: 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 daily life 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, labor economics in various fields holds great significance 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 in the coming 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.
Moreover, China is undergoing an economic transformation. Breaking free 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 suitable for 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 field of Chinese labor economics is 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 The Chinese Journal of 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 in line with changes in the world's economic centers. Although China's economy is developing rapidly, it is far from being the center of the global economy, and Chinese economists also have a heavy responsibility. Therefore, promoting the development of labor economics as a discipline will also be a significant mission of The Chinese Journal of Labor Economics.
Just as China's economy in the reform and opening-up era needs to absorb the achievements of global civilization, Chinese labor economics research must also learn from advanced theories and methods abroad. Among these, the study of normative labor economics is an urgent priority. Only by focusing on practical topics, conducting research based on surveys, and employing scientific analytical tools can our research truly delve into the depths and uncover hidden truths. Undoubtedly, foreign economists in this field have not only taken the lead but also achieved significant accomplishments. Actively absorbing advanced theories and scientific methods from abroad will be one of the key tasks of The Chinese Journal of Labor Economics.
At the same time, The Chinese Journal of Labor Economics will also strive to promote the standardization of labor economics research in China. The journal will adopt a double-blind peer-review system. Implementing this system is not only necessary for regulating its own behavior but also provides an important channel for communication among peers. By fostering a healthy academic criticism environment, we hope to promote the growth of The Chinese Journal of Labor Economics.
A Western economist once conducted a statistical analysis of papers published in over ten of the world's most important economics journals in recent years. The results showed that, by discipline, labor economics literature ranked third among all fields. This is sufficient to demonstrate the important role of labor economics in the current development of economics. In contrast, the development of labor economics in China, though still in its early stages, has not yet reached the appropriate scale and level. Given this, this regularly published professional journal on labor economics is even more worthy of attention, care, and collective effort.