Center for East Asian Studies
Institute for Regional and International Studies

China’s Rise and Economic Conflict with the United States

Headshot of Lardy in a suit and burgundy tie. The words “Nick Lardy, Peterson Institute for International Economics. UW Madison ‘68 BA, Economics” is displayed to the right of this head shot in white font. Below this information, is the talk title, “China’s Rise and Economic Conflict with the United States” in red and white font. The bottom column of the poster lists a shortened description of the talk listed above, as well as the moderator’s name and the date, time, and venue of the talk: October 24, 4:30PM Godfrey & Kahn Hall, Law School 2260

Title

China’s Rise and Economic Conflict with the United States

Abstract

Nicholas Lardy, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, D.C., and a UW alum (’68 BA Economics), was on campus October 24 to give a talk, “China’s Rise and Economic Conflict with the United States,” at a packed lecture hall in the law school. Dr. Lardy began his comments by noting that “I got my start at UW, studying political science, economics, and Chinese here.” He then presented his perspective on China’s economic reforms since the 1970s, the rise of China’s private sector, how things have changed in the era of Chinese President Xi Jinping (who Dr. Lardy said has moved aggressively to remove financial incentives for the private sector), and the current sources of friction between the U.S. and China.  Dr. Lardy concluded that we are in “a period of deteriorating economic relations that I fear will persist.” 

During an extensive question and answer session, Lardy commented on trade relations, the presidential election, security concerns, and more. “I think it’s simple,” Dr. Lardy responded to a question on Xi Jinping’s motivations for clamping down on the private sector. “He wants Party control. Private enterprise is not amenable to that.” Moderator Mike Knetter, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association CEO, described Dr. Lardy’s lecture as “a great example of a Wisconsin education.” The talk was sponsored by CEAS, the East Asian Legal Studies Center, the La Follette School of Public Affairs, the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership, and the Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy.

Biography

Nicholas R. Lardy, called “everybody’s guru on China” by the National Journal, is a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He joined the Institute in March 2003 from the Brookings Institution, where he was a senior fellow from 1995 until 2003. He is author, coauthor, or editor of numerous books, including The State Strikes Back: The End of Economic Reforms in China? (2019), Markets over Mao: The Rise of Private Business in China (2014), Sustaining China’s Economic Growth after the Global Financial Crisis (2012), and more.