Report on China
by Fred E. Foldvary, Senior Editor, 25 July 2010
I have been in China for one week, on my first visit to that country. I was invited to be one of the teachers of the Summer Camp of Economics by International Economists at Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.I brought with me two boxes of my book Soul of Liberty, 96 books, in checked luggage. I landed in Beijing and went through customs, explaining that these were books to give away to students. The customs official said OK, without opening the boxes.
From Beijing I took a connecting flight to Shenyang, arriving late in the evening. A student was waiting, holding up a sign with my name. The student took me to a car, and we arrived at Yuning Hotel. I tried out the television set, and noted that every station was in Chinese; there is no CNN or other foreign-language station, and nothing in English.
The next morning, Sunday, I met the other teachers at breakfast. There were four Americans and two Chinese instructors. One of the Americans teaches economics in Hawaii and has been my good friend and colleague. His wife is Chinese and had made the arrangements with the university. We were guided on a walk to the nearby university business school building. There was a large banner welcoming us and proclaiming the summer economics camp.
We walked into a large hallway where the students were standing in several rows, and we went to the front to be welcomed. After some speeches, we had lunch.
I presented the first "long lecture" on the business cycle. There were 95 students. At breakfast I was given a short-sleeved white shirt with an inscription for the economics camp. All the teachers and students wore the camp shirts. I talked about the real estate cycle, and how the real estate boom was caused by monetary and fiscal subsidies to land value and real estate purchases and construction, and that the remedy was to stop the subsidy by taxing land value, or have users lease land and pay the market rent. In China, the state owns the land.
After my lecture, the students each received a copy of Soul of Liberty. They liked the ying-yang symbol that is part of the cover. We then went into smaller groups of twenty to discuss the lecture. During the days of the camp all the students asked for my signature on the book.
Then the professors presented a short lecture, about a half hour, to rotating groups of students. The pattern each day was one or two long lectures and also a short lecture to rotating groups. One professor would present a long lecture to all, and then all the professors would give short lectures to small groups of about 20.
My short topics included history of economic thought, ethics and economics, environmental economics, and the concept of the market. My other long lecture was on public finance and public goods. Some students spoke English well, while others struggled with new words.
There were several banquets with university officials, who placed great importance on this economics camp, and honored us with gifts and praise. We had an evening where the students played some games, and included the teachers in the games. For example, hopping on one leg, each person holding one of the legs of the person in front. On the final day, Friday, the students put on a talent show.
These were all good-natured and enthusiastic students who greatly honored the teachers by arriving early or on time to the sessions, paying attention, and helping to erase the blackboards. The classes had computers for our PowerPoint presentations. At the talent show, they took pictures together with me, and many said, "We love you, professor Fred!" I have never felt so honored and appreciated! Thank you, Chinese students, the most wonderful students ever!
-- Fred Foldvary
-------------------------
Copyright 2010 by Fred E. Foldvary. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, which includes but is not limited to facsimile transmission, photocopying, recording, rekeying, or using any information storage or retrieval system, without giving full credit to Fred Foldvary and The Progress Report.
|
Also see: Paris Metro's cheaters say …
50 Years after Independence ...
Could education channel us into curiosity and self-discovery ... |
| Email this article | Sign up for free Progress Report updates via email |
What are your views? Share your opinions with The Progress Report:
| Page One | Page Two | Archive |
| Discussion Room | Letters | What's Geoism? |
