Authors: Yuhan Zhang and Lin Shi, Columbia University

Despite several years of solid growth in China’s domestic household consumption, as a share of GDP this sector has declined from around 55 per cent in the early 1980s to around 34 per cent in early 2011.

China’s 12th Five-Year Plan clearly indicates that increased domestic consumption is a major economic restructuring target, and key to achieving this goal will be reforms within the financial sector and policy on healthcare and the environment. Read more…

Author: Yuhan Zhang, Columbia University

While many Chinese pundits and scholars are applauding for China’s Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) as a milestone for China’s green revolution, the country’s march to low energy consumption and low carbon economy is not going to be a smooth or straight one.

China’s five-year plans, albeit strategically sound, are not likely to change the short- and medium-term energy and climate landscapes. Challenges will remain. Read more…