A joint Conference from the

Kiel Institute for the World Economy, University of Göttingen and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

China is the world’s foremost exporter and a major global investor, with an economic footprint that shapes global markets and political relations. Its state-led economic model and the close alignment of economic and political objectives distinguish China from Western economies, firmly positioning it at the center of contemporary geoeconomic dynamics. Renewed geopolitical tensions, shifting trade policies, and heightened strategic rivalry—particularly following the return of the Trump administration in the United States in 2025—have added new volatility and uncertainty to international economic relations. Frictions over market access, competition practices, and strategic industries have intensified. As these dynamics evolve, the need for rigorous, policy-relevant academic research on China’s global economic role has become more pressing than ever.

Building on the success of its previous editions, the third Kiel-Göttingen-CEPR China Conference will once again bring together leading international scholars to analyze China’s role in the global economy. Hosted in central Berlin, the conference aims to deepen dialogue between cutting-edge academic research and policy practice. By providing a forum for exchange between researchers, business practitioners, and policymakers, the conference seeks to advance informed debate on China’s economic impact and its implications for international economic relations.

One of our keynote speakers will be Fabrizio Zilibotti (Yale University and CEPR). Confirmed invited speakers include Bingjing Li (University of Hong Kong), Andrea Presbitero (International Monetary Fund and CEPR), Nancy Qian (Northwestern University and CEPR), and Heiwai Tang (University of Hong Kong). Conference highlights include the Kiel-MERICS Policy Panel on “China Shock 2.0: How Can Europe Shape Its Strategic Response to Geoeconomic Disruption?” and a special live edition of Global China Conversations — our monthly webinar series on China in the global economy — on the topic “China Shock 2.0: How Can the German Automotive Industry Respond?” 
 

We welcome submissions that cover various themes, including but not limited to:

• International trade and trade policy
• Inward and outward direct investments
• Aid and government lending strategies
• Environmental and climate costs and challenges with China’s economic rise
• China’s geoeconomic strategy and implications of China’s flagship initiatives
• China’s impact on global development
• AI, innovation, technology transfer, and digitisation
• Growth prospects and spillover effects on the world economy
• Historical foundations of China’s rise as a global economic power
• Tracking China’s global reach with innovative data sources

Papers should be submitted as complete manuscripts, with extended abstracts considered only in exceptional cases. While authors may submit multiple papers, each participant can present only one paper at the conference. The conference will be held in person, with each paper allocated 30 minutes. If you require funding for your trip, please indicate this when submitting your paper. CEPR Travel guidelines  apply.

ORGANISERS

Andreas Fuchs (University of Göttingen, Kiel Institute)
Holger Görg (Kiel Institute, Kiel Centre for Globalization, Kiel University)
Lei Li (University of Göttingen)
Wan-Hsin Liu (Kiel Institute, Kiel Centre for Globalization)
Moritz Schularick (Kiel Institute, Sciences Po, CEPR)
Christoph Trebesch (Kiel Institute, CEPR)
Xiaohua Yu (University of Göttingen) 

Andreas Fuchs is grateful for financial support by the VolkswagenStiftung in the framework of the Momentum project “Tapping innovative data sources to analyze the impact of authoritarian states on global development”. Holger Görg and Wan-Hsin Liu are grateful for financial support by the Fritz Thyssen Stiftung in the framework of the Research Project “Global Producers in China: Empirical Evidence on FDI, Product-Mix and Emissions”.

HOW TO APPLY

The submission deadline is Monday, 23 March 2026, 6 PM (CEST), 5 PM (BST), 12 PM (EDT). 

Authors who already have a CEPR HUB profile can upload their submission by:

1. Going to https://hub.cepr.org/ and logging in
2. After you have logged in, go to https://hub.cepr.org/event/5125
3. Click on “Step 1: Apply”
4. Under “Apply to Attend” click “Yes”
5. Tick the boxes that apply to you 
6. Tick “Would you like to submit a paper?”, upload your paper and supply the requested information
7. Click “Submit form” to make the submission.

Authors who do not have a CEPR HUB profile can upload their submission by:

1. Creating a new profile here https://hub.cepr.org/user/register
2. After you have logged in, go to https://hub.cepr.org/event/5125
3. Click on “Step 1: Apply”
4. Under “Apply to Attend” click “Yes”
5. Tick the boxes that apply to you 
6. Tick “Would you like to submit a paper?”, upload your paper and supply the requested information
7. Click “Submit form” to make the submission.

Submissions of extended abstracts will be accepted, but clear preference will be given to completed papers.