China in the Global Economy

China remains the world’s foremost exporter and a major global investor, with an economic footprint that continues to shape global markets and political relations. Its state-led economic model and the close alignment of economic and political objectives distinguish China from Western economies, firmly positioning it at the centre of contemporary geoeconomic dynamics. Renewed geopolitical tensions, shifting trade policies, and heightened strategic rivalry—particularly following the return of the Trump administration in the United States in 2025—have added new volatility and uncertainty to international economic relations. Frictions over market access, competition practices, and strategic industries have intensified. As these dynamics evolve, the need for rigorous, policy-relevant academic research on China’s global economic role has become more pressing than ever.

Building on the success of its previous editions, the 3rd Kiel-Göttingen-CEPR China Conference will once again bring together leading international scholars to analyse China’s role in the global economy. Hosted in central Berlin, the conference aims to deepen dialogue between cutting-edge academic research and policy practice. By providing a forum for exchange between researchers, business practitioners, and policymakers, the conference seeks to advance informed debate on China’s economic impact and its implications for international economic relations.

Keynote speeches will be delivered by Chang-Tai Hsieh (University of Chicago and NBER) and Fabrizio Zilibotti (Yale University and CEPR).

Conference highlights include the Kiel–MERICS Policy Panel on “China Shock 2.0: How Can Europe Shape Its Strategic Response to Geoeconomic Disruption?”, with Katharina Erhardt (Research Director and Head of the Industrial Policy Lab, Kiel Institute), Jens Eskelund (President, European Chamber of Commerce in China), and Mikko Huotari (Director, Mercator Institute for China Studies) as panelists.

The program also features a special live edition of Global China Conversations on “China Shock 2.0: How Can the German Automotive Industry Respond?”, with Manuel Kallweit (Head of Economic Intelligence, German Association of the Automotive Industry, VDA), Karoline Rogge (Professor of Sustainability Innovation and Policy, University of Sussex Business School), and Sander Tordoir (Chief Economist, Centre for European Reform) as speakers.

The conference will feature around 30 presentations of recent research on China in the global economy. Confirmed speakers include Philipp Boeing (Goethe University Frankfurt and ZEW), Julian Hinz (University of Bielefeld and Kiel Institute), Soo Yeon Kim (University of British Columbia), Bingjing Li (University of Hong Kong), Faqin Lin (China Agricultural University), and Andrea Presbitero (International Monetary Fund and CEPR).