In the context of the project, several partner organisations in China, mainly the National Bureau of Statistics, were advised in preparing concepts, execution and analysis of a countrywide business cycle survey and, in addition, half-yearly special enterprise surveys.
During several workshops and bilateral visits, experts from the Ifo Institute and Chinese colleagues discussed central theoretical, methodological and practical problems, focusing on survey methods, analysis, interpretation and presentation of results.
Own surveys
Based on a thorough exchange of experience and a pilot phase, in the first quarter of 2000 surveys were conducted in all Chinese provinces. Since then, surveys are carried out on a quarterly basis. Altogether 19,000 enterprises are taking part. The diversity of the country and the large differences between the economic conditions in different provinces were a special challenge for the introduction of a countrywide business-cycle survey and the analysis of the generated data.
During a final conference, the results were thoroughly discussed with international experts, and edited in a publication. The results met with large acceptance not only in economic circles but also from the government and decentralised institutions as well as the media.
With the generous support of the Volkswagen Foundation, the Ifo Institute has been able to make an important contribution to the improvement of the economic information system in China.
Enterprise Survey Organization, National Bureau of Statistics (2002): The Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, Enterprise Survey Series, Beijing.
Taube, M. (2002): Erscheinungsformen und Bestimmungsgründe makroökonomischer Zyklen in der VR China. Planungs-, Transformations-, Konjunkturzyklen: Teil I: Wachstumszyklen in einem zentralverwaltungswirtschaftlichen Regime (1952-1978), Duisburger Arbeitspapiere zur Ostasienwirtschaft 62, Duisburg.
Taube, M. (in preparation): Erscheinungsformen und Bestimmungsgründe makroökonomischer Zyklen in der VR China. Planungs-, Transformations-, Konjunkturzyklen: Teil II: Makroökonomische Zyklen in einer Transformationsökonomie (1978-1999), Duisburger Arbeitspapiere zur Ostasienwirtschaft, Duisburg.
Taube, M. (in preparation): Erscheinungsformen und Bestimmungsgründe makroökonomischer Zyklen in der VR China. Planungs-, Transformations-, Konjunkturzyklen: Teil III: Marktbasierte Konjunkturzyklen, Duisburger Arbeitspapiere zur Ostasienwirtschaft, Duisburg.
Reichl B., Schönherr S., Taube M. (2003), Business Cycles and Cycle Analysis in China (Konjunkturzyklen und Konjunkturforschung in China), ifo Forschungsbericht No. 18 (in German), Munich.
RSS