Development of Center for Transnationals' Studies of Nankai University(CTSNK)
Preparation and Establishment
In 1986, Prof. Teng Weizao, a famous economist and former President of Nankai University proposed to set up a specialized research institution involved in international economy. In that year, too, The National Education committee approved of Nankai University’ declaration of establishment of Institute of International Economics(NKIIE). The State Council Academic Degree Committee empowers NKIIE to enroll graduate and doctoral students and grant degrees. After more than a year of preparation, on Nov. 9, 1987, NKIIE was officially founded. At the outset, most of the teaching and research staffs are from World Economy Research Section under Nankai Institute of Economics (NKIE) which can be traced back to 1927 to make it one of the earliest economic institutions In China.
Since its establishment in 1987, NKIIE settled on Pro. Li Zhuomin , founder of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a former professor in IE of Nankai University as Director. For health reasons, Pro. Li Zhuomin was unable to take office. At his urging, Sir Yang Shujin, a NKIIE alumnus and World Bank Senior Specialist, was hired as executive director and Pro. Xiong Xingmei as deputy director. In a substantially long period, Pro. Jiang Zheshi and Pro. Golson helped with the institutional administration because Sir Yang Shujin was in America most of the time and Pro. Xiong Xingmei frequently travelled for education in the US and Europe.
Our mission is to develop senior researchers for China through doctoral and master programs and peruse research in the field of international economy especially research in foreign related economies. Teaching and research on International Economy has been neglected for a long time before the 1980s for a variety of reasons. Since China opened its door to the outside world in 1979, our government sensed there is a lack of research on international economic issues and we were in desperate need for International economic experts. The establishment of NKIIE became a critical step to address that need. Apart from actively participated in International cooperation in teaching and research, NKIIE also provides consulting services in the areas of international economics and international business for various government agencies and enterprises.
NKIIE’s studies covered five wide fields: international trade and balance of payments, multinational corporations, international economic law, Asia Pacific economic relations and comprehensive research. Research projects mainly focused on the following facets: international capital movements, Multinational corporations, Comparative Company Law, roles of industrial corporations and keiretsu, economic growth and cycle of developed capitalist countries, and China’s economic policy of opening to the outside world. Additional projects focused on Chinese international economy including foreign trade system reform of China, export-promotion policies and measures, economic analysis on China’s cos tal economic development zone, Sino-Japanese trade and investment relations, Comparative Foreign Investment Law , etc. NKIIE set up five research sections. They are respectively Research Section of International Trade, Research Section of Multinational Corporation, Research Section of International Economic Law, Comprehensive Research Section, and Research Section of Asia-Pacific Economy.
Reconstruction and Development
Sir Xiong Xingmei succeeded the director after Sir Yang Shujin quitted office For health reasons in 1993. Around related subjects and research areas, NKIIE went through a series of reconstruction and regulation which involves discipline like Research of Multinational Corporation, Research of International Economic Law, Research of APEC and etc.
Research of Multinational Corporation and FDI have always been the research focus and dominance of NKIIE. Pro. Jiang Zheshi was appointed Head of the center, Xian Guoming and Zhang Yangui when Research Center for Multinational Corporation was set up in 1992. Institute of International Economy had made brilliant achievements under the auspices of Pro. Teng Weizao, Pro. Jiang Zheshi, and Pro. Chenyinfang. In 1999, Research Center for Multinational Corporation applied for MOE’s Key Research Institutes of Humanities and Social Sciences and got approved in 2000.
In 1995, Research Section of International Economic Law became an independent sector, Institute of International Economic Law. Pro. Golson was Director.
In March, 1998, Research Section of Asia-Pacific Economy stood alone as APEC Study Center, and Pro Gong Zhankui was appointed director. In 1999, APEC Study Center was approved MOE’s Key Research Institutes of Humanities and Social Sciences. Asia-pacific economic issues were increasingly important to China as China took more and more economic activities in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC Study Center upgraded China APEC Institute later in 2003.
In 2003, in order to perfect and promote teaching and researching system of NKIIE and adapted to world situations, Research Section o f International Finance with Pro. Dai Jinping taking the lead.
As economic research methods continue to be improved and the results of analysis could not be drawn just with qualitative study, Econometric was used more and more international academia For quantitative analysis and empirical test. Therefore, Research Section of Econometrics was set up in 2003. With the efforts of Pro. Zhang Xiaotong and other professors, econometrics is taken seriously as a basic research technique and tool in our school. In 2008, Research Section of Econometrics became an independent sector, Institute of Quantitative Economy. Pro. Zhang Xiaotong was Director.
Over two decades, teaching and research mainly focused on the following facets: multinational corporation and international investment, international trade and International Finance.
