On September 17th -18th, the Third CIER / IZA Conference on Labor Economics "China's labor market: Challenges and Strategies" co-sponsored by CIER and IZA was successfully held in YiFu Conference Room of RUC.  

The seminar invited officers from the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, as well as experts and scholars from University of Gothenburg, Sweden, University of Bologna, Italy, IZA, University of Bonn, Germany, Institute of Economic Science of France, Renmin University of China, Peking University, Beijing Normal University, Xiamen University and Beijing Academy of Social Sciences.

Dean of SLHR of RUC, director of CIER Professor Zeng Xiangquan, director of IZA, Professor Klaus F. Zimmermann from University of Bonn attended the meeting and delivered a speech on the background and topic of the meeting, as well as cooperation between the two sides. Deputy Director of Research of RUC and Deputy Director of CIER, Professor Yang Weiguo chaired the meeting.

 

Professor Zeng Xiangquan

On the morning of 17th, Professor Zeng started with the current hot issues "labor shortage", "Foxconn jump", "Honda strike" and "a wage boom", and made deep analysis on China's current pressing issues faced with the labor market: Has China's labor market supply and demand relationship changed? Are low wages expected to end? Has the balance of power of labor relations changed? He also made some corresponding policy recommendations. Professor compared the two countries and put forward some valuable suggestions for Labor Market development in China's Twelfth Five-Year plan. Afterwards, Director Liu Danhua of Employment Promotion Division of Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Deputy Director Hu Deqiao of employment and income distribution Division, National Development and Reform Commission, Professor Li Shi from Beijing Normal University, Professor Zeng Xiangquan, Professor Zimmermann and other experts made in-depth discussion and exchange about problems and challenges in future development of China's labor market and corresponding countermeasures.

17th afternoon and 18th was symposium time. The experts discussed a lot on issues like China's rural labor market, income inequality, employment dynamics, migrant workers, entrepreneurship, employee benefits and labor relations. The meeting included a wide range of research papers, advanced research methods, research findings which have important policy implications and inspiration. The discussion was warm and fruitful.

This Seminar was held by CIER. It is the third conference of "CIER/IZA Conference on Labor Economics" after the two successful meeting held in RUC and Bonn, Germany. SLHR of RUC as the initiator of the forum, takes it as an important implement to the strategy of enhancing international level of RUC. Organizing and participating in forums can encourage faculty in SLHR to report papers published in English, and construct international academic exchange platform, thus expanding   influence of SLHR　in the field of academic. Professor Zhao Zhong, Sun Jianmin, Cheng Yanyuan, Researcher Ding Dajian, Geng Lin, Huang Wei, Ge Yuhao, Wu Qiang, Yang Yumei attend the discussion forum, reported research results, presided over the symposium or made recommendations.
 PS: The conference schedule Link:
 http://www.iza.org/conference_files/CIER2011/viewProgram?conf_id=2137