CSEP hosted a seminar on “How China Funded Its Cities: Comparison with India” on Monday, 29 April, 2024 from 11.30 am to 1 pm. Christine Wong, Visiting Research Professor, East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore, and Honorary Professorial Fellow, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne gave the keynote address on “Municipal Finance in China:  How cities have managed the provision of infrastructure and public services during ‘warped speed’ urbanization”.

Abstract:
Under China’s highly decentralised fiscal system, local governments are responsible for providing almost all public services, including education, health, social welfare and infrastructure. China’s urban population has grown by almost 700 million since 1980. Cities have grown and prospered, and invested in massive amounts of infrastructure.  Public services have improved markedly, with universal education, health care, pensions and social welfare, albeit with uneven and often shallow coverage. In her presentation, Prof. Wong will discuss what have been the implications of these massive investments on China’s configuration of cities, distributional outcomes as well as fiscal sustainability.

Speakers:

• Christine Wong, Visiting Research Professor, East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore, and Honorary Professorial Fellow, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
• Rakesh Mohan, President Emeritus and Distinguished Fellow, CSEP
• Debarpita Roy, Fellow, CSEP
• Om Prakash Mathur, Visiting Senior Fellow, CSEP

Moderator:

• Shishir Gupta, Senior Fellow, CSEP