Recently, the National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences released the list of approved Major Programs of the National Social Science Fund of China for 2025. The research project Research on the Contemporary Value and Innovative Development of Traditional Chinese Economic Thought, with Professor Wang Fang from the School of Economics, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) as chief expert, has been granted funding as a Major Program of the National Social Science Fund of China.
Project Introduction
As a vital component of China’s fine traditional culture, traditional Chinese economic thought is rooted in the long-standing economic practices of ancient Chinese society. It has evolved continuously across history to form a relatively complete system of economic concepts, principles, doctrines and policy propositions with distinct Chinese national features. It provided intellectual momentum for China’s long-standing global economic leadership in ancient times and has exerted far-reaching influences on modern economic theories and practices, carrying cross-temporal value and global significance.
Guided by the important proposition of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s fine traditional economic thought, this project systematically explores pathways, mechanisms and approaches to unlocking the contemporary value of traditional Chinese economic thought and advancing its creative transformation and innovative development. It offers an important lens for understanding the historical continuity, internal inheritance and contemporary innovation of Chinese economic thought. The research helps strengthen theoretical consciousness in the study of the history of Chinese economic thought on key issues including disciplinary paradigms, academic interpretation and discourse construction. It also provides solid academic support and theoretical foundations for consolidating the subjectivity of Chinese economic thought through the “Second Combination”, resolving the debates between ancient and modern, Chinese and Western ideas, and demonstrating the contemporary value and global significance of the “systematic economic doctrine” of Chinese economic thought.
Led by Professor Wang Fang of SUFE as chief expert, the research team includes Researcher Zhong Xiangcai from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Wei Zhong from Central China Normal University, Professor Yang Chunxue from Capital University of Economics and Business, Professor Zhao Xiaolei and Associate Researcher Chen Xudong from SUFE as sub-project leaders.
Chief Expert of the Project
Wang Fang is Chair Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Economics, SUFE, Deputy Director of the Institute for the Development of Chinese Economic Thought, and Associate Editor of the key Marxist Engineering textbook A History of Chinese Economic Thought. She also serves as Vice President of the Chinese Society for the History of Economic Thought and Council Member of the Chinese Economic History Society. Her main research areas are the history of Chinese economic thought and comparative economic thought between China and foreign countries. She has authored, edited or contributed to more than 20 Chinese and English works, two of which were selected for the National Publication Fund Program. She has published over 60 academic papers in journals and newspapers including Historical Research, Economic Perspectives, Studies in Chinese Economic History, People’s Daily and Guangming Daily. She has presided over and participated in more than 20 national and provincial-ministerial research projects.
