The 3rd Conference on New Economic History of China
Understanding China:
the Past as a Guide For the Future
The 3rd Conference on New Economic History of China
& 2026 CEIBS Economics Symposium
Thursday 26 March - Friday 27 March 2026
CEIBS Shanghai Campus, Shanghai, China
Co-organized by CEIBS/NUS/HKBU
Agenda
| March 26, 2026 | |
| 08:30-09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00-09:05 | Opening Remarks Tian ZHU, CEIBS |
| 09:05-10:20 | Keynote Address: Two Paths to Prosperity: Culture and Institutions in Europe and China, 1000–2000 Joel MOKYR, Northwestern University |
| 10:20-10:35 | Tea Break |
| Session 1 Chair: Tianyang XI, Peking University |
|
| 10:35-11:15 | The Breakdown of Credible Power-Sharing: Evidence from China under the KMT Erik WANG, New York University |
| 11:15-11:55 | Distance to Bacon: The Search for the Culture of Growth in Historical China Chicheng MA, The University of Hong Kong |
| 11:55-13:30 | Lunch & Networking （the first floor of Commons Building, Point B on the campus map) |
| Session 2 Chair: Peiyuan LI, Duke Kunshan University |
|
| 13:30-14:10 | Crises and Career Choices: Evidence from Overseas Chinese Students during the Great Depression Cong LIU, Jinan University |
| 14:10-14:50 | Shifting Standards: The Military Examination System and Official Selection in Qing China Yiling ZHAO, Peking University |
| 14:50-15:05 | Tea Break |
| Session 3 Chair: Li DUAN, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics |
|
| 15:05-15:45 | Agricultural Productivity and State-Building: Evidence from the Iron Revolution in Pre-Imperial China Joy CHEN, Renmin University |
| 15:45-16:25 | Mining Chinese Historical Sources at Scale: A Machine Learning Approach to Qing State Capacity Carol SHIUE, University of Colorado Boulder |
| 16:25-16:30 | Tea Break |
| Session 4 Chair: Zhihao XU, Tsinghua University |
|
| 16:30-17:30 | Distinguished Address: Out with Keju, In with “Useful Knowledge”: The Emergence of Modern Occupations in Dynastic China James KUNG, The University of Melbourne |
| 18:00-20:00 | Conference Dinner @ Dongjiao State Guest Hotel |
| * Shuttle bus will depart from CEIBS Jinke Road Gate for Conference dinner at 17:45pm. | |
| March 27, 2026 | |
| Session 5 Chair: Pei GAO, National University of Singapore |
|
| 09:00-10:00 | Distinguished Address: Transport and Market: The Driving Forces of China's Long 18th Century Prosperity Bozhong LI, Peking University |
| 10:00-10:15 | Tea Break |
| Session 6 Chair: Wentian DIAO, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics |
|
| 10:15-10:55 | A Theory of Political Divergence and Gradual Institutional Change Clair YANG, University of Washington in Seattle |
| 10:55-11:35 | A Theory of Aristocracy John QUAH, National University of Singapore |
| 11:35-11:50 | Tea Break |
| Concluding Session | |
| 11:50-12:40 | Special Session: Market Scale versus Merchant Power in Early Modern China and Europe: Prosperity, Politics, and the Limits of Commercial Wealth Dingxin ZHAO, University of Chicago and Zhejiang University |
| 12:40-12:45 | Closing Remarks Jiahua CHE, CEIBS Tuan-Hwee SNG, National University of Singapore |
| 12:45-14:15 | Lunch & Networking (the first floor of Commons Building, Point B on the campus map) |
| * Shuttle bus will depart from CEIBS Jinke Road Gate to Dongjiao State Guest Hotel at 14:30pm &16:10pm. | |
Visitor Information
Conference Location
Duan Yongping Academic Centre, Room 201
China Europe International Business School
950 Jinke Road, Pudong, Shanghai 201206
CEIBS Campus
The conference sessions will take place in Duan Yongping Academic Centre Room 201 (Point A on the campus map). Lunch will be held on the first floor of Commons Building (Point B on the campus map). Please arrive at Jinke Road school gate (Point C on the campus map), the nearest gate to conference location.
Getting to CEIBS Shanghai Campus
The CEIBS Shanghai Campus is located in the Jinqiao area of Pudong, a vibrant international business district with excellent multi-modal transport connectivity.
By Metro
CEIBS is accessible via multiple metro lines, providing convenient public transport options:
- Line 14 (via Yunshun Road Station), about 425 meters from the campus. This is the most direct metro access to CEIBS.
- Line 2 (via Jinke Road Station), an 11-minute taxi ride to campus.
- Line 6 (via Jufeng Road Station), a 15-minute taxi ride to campus.
- Line 9 (via Lantian Road Station), a 8-minute taxi ride to campus.
By Air
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Approximately 30 minutes by taxi directly to campus. Metro alternative: Take Line 2 to Jinke Road, transfer to taxi. - Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) / Hongqiao Railway Station
Approximately 50–60 minutes by taxi (traffic-dependent).
Metro route: Take Line 2 to Jinke Road, transfer to taxi.
By Taxi
- Use the address “950 Jinke Road, Pudong, Shanghai” to arrive at reception directly, or address “699 Hongfeng Road, Pudong, Shanghai” another school gate, a little far from conference location.
Hotel
Dongjiao State Guest Hotel
Website: https://dongjiaoguest.cn
Hotel Address: No. 1800 Jinke Road, Pudong District, Shanghai
Please note that hotel rooms for guest speakers are at Dongjiao State Guest Hotel East Building (Point B on the hotel map), around 10-minute-walk from hotel gate (No. 1800 Jinke Road) (Point A on the hotel map). Please take taxi directly to East building.
Hotel map
Important Information for Conference Participants
1. Shuttle Bus Service Between CEIBS and Dongjiao State Guest Hotel
From Dongjiao State Guest Hotel (East Building) to CEIBS (Jinke Road School Gate)
● March 26, 8:30 AM
● March 27, 8:30 AM
From CEIBS (Jinke Road School Gate) to Dongjiao State Guest Hotel (East Building)
● March 26, 17:45 PM
● March 27, 14:30 PM
● March 27, 16:10 PM
Driver Information: TBA
2. Campus Access for Participants Arriving at CEIBS on Their Own
If you would like to arrive at CEIBS on your own, please send to Coco Shi (scoco@ceibs.edu) by March 13 the following information of yours:
full name,
mobile phone number,
vehicle license plate number (if any).
We will apply on your behalf for visitor pass. Once your application is processed, a text message beginning with [CEIBS] will be sent to the above mobile number with a link to your campus access QR code.
3. Dinner Reservation on March 26
The conference has reserved seats for all participants for the dinner on March 26. If you are unable to attend, please kindly inform Coco Shi (scoco@ceibs.edu) by March 13 so that we could adjust seating arrangements accordingly.
4. Optional Activity on March 27 Afternoon
On the afternoon of March 27, Prof Mokyr will give a public speech at CEIBS New Horizons Forum:
The Past and Future of Innovation: Can Progress be Sustained?
After the speech, Prof Mokyr will also have a dialogue with Prof Tian ZHU, Vice President and Co-Dean of CEIBS on the outlook of global innovation. Please click for detailed agenda of the forum.
If you would like to attend this forum after our conference, please inform Lilian Zhang (zlilian@ceibs.edu) by March 13.
