Faculty & Research

Knowledge creation on China, from proven China experts.

Faculty & Research

Knowledge creation on China, from proven China experts.

Faculty Profiles

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Zhu, Tian

Vice President and Co-Dean;
Santander Chair in Economics, CEIBS

ztian@ceibs.edu
Personal Webpage
(86) 21-2890 5603

Prof. Zhu Tian is Vice President and Co-Dean, Santander Chair in Economics at CEIBS. He was the Department Chair of Economics and Decision Science between 2011 and 2016. From January 2017 to March 2025, Prof. Zhu held the position of Associate Dean and Director of EMBA Programme at CEIBS. Before joining CEIBS in 2005, Professor Zhu taught at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) for ten years. From 1994 to 1995, prior to his academic career, Professor Zhu worked as an Industry Analyst for the First Chicago Bank in the United States. Educated in China and the US, he received his BSc, MA, and PhD degrees from Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Northwestern University, respectively.

Professor Zhu is an expert on the Chinese economy and the author of Catching Up to America: Culture, Institutions, and the Rise of China (Cambridge University Press, 2021). His research articles in recent years have appeared in China Economic Review, Comparative Economic Studies, Economics of Transition, Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, Journal of Corporate Finance, and Journal of Financial Intermediation. In 2017, he received a best article award, the Bergson Prize from the Association for Comparative Economic Studies.  In addition to his academic research, Professor Zhu has written many op-ed articles for the Chinese and international press and online media including China Daily, Financial Times, Forbes, Guancha, The Economic Observer, and The Wall Street Journal. He is also a recipient of the CEIBS Teaching Excellence Award.

 

ACADEMIC DEGREES
RESEARCH INTERESTS
TEACHING INTERESTS
PUBLICATIONS
VIDEOS
IN THE MEDIA
  • 1995 PhD in Economics, Northwestern University, USA
  • 1989 MA in Economics, Peking University, China
  • 1986 BSc in Management Information System, Tsinghua University, China
  • Theory of the Firm
  • Culture and Economic Development
  • Chinese Economy
  • Managerial Economics
  • Chinese Economy

中国式增长 (Chinese Style Growth)

Catching Up to America

What Makes Great Leaders in the AI Era? | Zhu Tian at CEIBS GEMBA Graduation 2026

Can China Overcome its Economic Challenges? Prof. Zhu Tian on Demand, the EV & AI Boom, & Stimulus

Prof. Zhu Tian Discusses How to Stimulate Consumption in China | CEIBS Spotlight

Professor of Economics & Associate Dean Zhu Tian | CEIBS Faculty Introductions

Professor Zhu Tian on resilience in his work and in the Chinese economy

China’s Economic Outlook: Short-term Fluctuation and Long-term Growth

The secret to China’s economic growth? It’s not what you think

CEIBS Research Meets Management: Catching up to America

China struggles at football because talent development is too spread out geographically, Prof. Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post

Vice President and Co-Dean Zhu Tian shares his thoughts with South China Morning Post on the passing of Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji

China's H1 economic data: The puzzle behind China's 5% growth

Why does China win Olympic Medals, but miss out on the World Cup?

In a Bloomberg news story, Professor Zhu Tian weighs in on a recent visit to Scandinavia by China's Foreign Minister.

In an interview with French news agency AFP, Prof. Zhu Tian discusses the prospect of an EU-China trade war

New York Times quote Professor Zhu Tian in piece on China’s economic data for May 2026

Professor Zhu Tian quoted by the South China Morning Post on China’s recent moves to regulate enterprises to try to prevent price wars

CEIBS Vice Preisdent & Co-Dean Zhu Tian quoted by New York Times on China's latest trade figures

France 24 quote CEIBS Professor Zhu Tian on China's new economic growth targets

CEIBS Professor Zhu Tian's suggestion to give every Chinese citizen RMB 3,000 to stimulate the economy quoted in France 24 article on consumer spending

Speaking at the launch of the new CEIBS – APS Centre for Financial Markets (CAC), Professor Zhu Tian is quoted by South China Morning Post saying risks of investing in China are overplayed

New York Times quote Prof. Zhu Tian's article published on CEIBS website, which blames China's sluggish economy on decline of the real estate sector

Ice and Fire: Understanding China’s Economic Divide

Professor Zhu Tian quoted by The Washington Post in piece looking at how US-China economic relations may play out in 2026

In a piece in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Professor Zhu says an official digital currency is pointless as majority of transactions in China already digital

Professor Zhu Tian's suggestion to give everyone in China RMB 3,000 to reboot the economy, discussed in German business daily Handelsblatt

How to fix China's struggling economy? Give all 1.4 billion people RMB 3,000 to spend, Professor Zhu Tian writes in an op-ed for South China Morning Post

Prof. Zhu Tian quoted by Bloomberg on article on the Chinese economy's deflation problem

Moves to boost private spending in China need to go further, Professor Zhu Tian tells Straits Times

Professor Zhu Tian quoted by South China Morning Post on the Chinese government’s work plan for 2025

China is in a strong position to weather turbulence in the US-China trading relationship, Professor Zhu Tian tells the Washington Post

Professor of Economics Zhu Tian quoted by German business daily Handelsblatt on Trump’s mild approach to tariffs on China so far

China’s 2025 Economy: Can bold policies drive a turnaround?

In a South Morning China Morning Post article, Professor of Economics Zhu Tian discusses the benefits of Chinese firms borrowing from foreign financial institutions

Professor Zhu Tian tells the Washington Post that boosting the property sector and providing cash payments to the population can give the Chinese economy the boost it needs in 2025

The New York Times quote Professor Zhu Tian on recent government moves to stimulate the Chinese economy

In the Straits Times, Prof. Zhu Tian explains how the Chinese economy will be affected by the return of Donald Trump

Prof. Zhu Tian talks with French business daily Les Echoes about the effects of Donald Trump's planned tarrifs on the Chinese economy

A new Trump administration would probably pursue a more extreme economic policy towards China, Professor Zhu Tian tells Handelsblatt

Professor Zhu Tian shares his thoughts with South China Morning Post on government support for private enterprise in China

Professor Zhu Tian quoted by South China Morning Post on China’s new economic stimulus package

Higher-than-average growth in Shanghai and other key Yangtze River Delta cities in the first half of this year is a noteworthy achievement, Professor Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post

Professor Zhu Tian discusses his hopes for China's third plenum with Singapore's Straits Times

The outcome of China’s recent third plenum shows market mechanisms and the government’s role are unified and complementary, Professor Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post

Prof. Zhu Tian tells Singapore’s Straits Times that slowing household consumption is not the main reason for China’s current economic difficulties

Professor Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post that market forces work best when freed from politics in news report on the EV industry

In an article looking at China’s economic progress so far in 2024, Professor Zhu Tian gives shares his analysis with South China Morning Post

Professor Zhu Tian shares his views with South China Morning Post on China's new initiative to regulate the finance industry

China should carry out reforms to create more leeway for private and foreign firms, Professor Economics Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post

Policies to support state owned enterprises may have unintended effects on international companies in China, Professor Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post.

CEIBS professor of Economics Zhu Tian speaks to South China Morning Post on what the Chinese Premier’s upcoming work report could mean for the private sector in 2024

In Reuters article, Professor Zhu Tian says more stimulus measures are necessary to avoid a "vicious cycle" of low confidence in the Chinese economy

Will China’s economy rebound in 2024?

In a story on the possible “Japanification” of the Chinese economy, Professor Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post that policy reform must continue to avoid stagnation

Professor of Economics Zhu Tian tells the South China Morning Post that local officials in China must support the delivery of a pro-business message

Growth goals for economically powerful areas of China must be realistic in order to be effective, Professor Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post

China’s economy remains mainly determined by domestic policy rather than overseas factors, Professor Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post

Professor of Economics Zhu Tian discusses role of private sector investments in stimulating the economy with South China Morning Post

Professor Zhu Tian discusses China’s economic policy direction for 2024 with the South China Morning Post

New York Times quotes Professor Zhu Tian on China’s changing finance sector

Visa policy changes may bring long-term benefit to China’s economy, Professor Zhu Tian tells the South China Morning Post

Professor Zhu Tian quoted by South China Morning Post over the role of the market, as China considers tightening finance sector regulation

Can China maintain 5% growth in the coming years?

Professor Zhu Tian gives his views to the Financial Times on China’s post-pandemic recovery

Can China return to rapid growth in the post-pandemic world?

China’s economy looks set for a healthy recovery in 2023, CEIBS Professor of Economics Zhu Tian tells Globe and Mail

Can the digital economy sustain China’s growth under pressure?

Brazil’s biggest newspaper O Globo quotes Prof Zhu Tian on the knock-on effects of China’s COVID policy on the world economy

Aligning with high-level global trade rules

RCEP takes effect! What benefits will it bring to China?

China in for a year of growth if covid stays under control, Professor Zhu Tian tells Globe and Mail

How are Chinese companies going global?

Professor Zhu Tian quoted by Bloomberg on China’s crackdown on tax-dodging influencers

Prof Zhu Tian tells China Daily opening up policies a key factor in China's economic rise

Wall Street's long-standing economic relationswith China only go so far, Professor Zhu Tian tells South China Morning Post

Evergrande financial issue will not have huge impact on China's economy, Prof Zhu Tian tells CNBC in TV interview

Wall Street's long-standing economic relations with China only go so far, Professor Zhu Tian tellsSouth China Morning Post

Major gift set to help advance supply chain and service innovation research

If exports shrink, what will drive China’s growth?

Prof Zhu Tian says China International Import Expo is sign of normalization

China’s ability to consume will boost economic virus recovery

Bloomberg: Prof Zhu Tian discusses financing of China’s tech push

Handelsblatt: Prof Zhu Tian discusses EU’s desire to see equality between private and public sector in China (in German)

China Daily: Prof Zhu Tian says state-owned banks have played a key role in getting China’s economy moving again post-COVID-19

El Pais: Prof Zhu Tian interviewed on the impact of the coronavirus on the labour market (in Spanish)

SRF: Prof Zhu Tian discusses the impact of the coronavirus on the Chinese economy (in German)

Professor Zhu Tian on the keys to China's economic development in the coming decade

Will China’s Economy Maintain Its Medium-to-High-Speed Growth in the Next Decade?

CEIBS Professor of Economics Zhu Tian discusses the prospects of China producing a Nobel Prize winner