The 8th National Forum on Marxist Economics and the 9th National Youth Forum on Marxist Economics Convened at Southwest University
Jointly hosted by the Division of Marxist Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Office of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project (Ma-Gong-Cheng) [1] of CASS, the Center for Economic and Social Development of CASS, and the Department of Principles of the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS, and organized by the School of Marxism of Southwest University, the "8th National Forum on Marxist Economics and the 9th National Youth Forum on Marxist Economics" was held at Southwest University from September 27 to 29, 2019. Co-organizers included the Economics Editorial Department of the Information Center for Social Sciences of Renmin University of China (RUC), the Reform journal office, and the West Forum journal office. More than 180 experts and scholars from over 100 universities and research institutions—including CASS, Renmin University of China, Nankai University, Wuhan University, Fudan University, Sichuan University, Beijing Normal University, Tongji University, Xiamen University, and Lanzhou University—gathered to engage in discussions on major theoretical and practical issues in the field of political economy.
Professor Bai Xianliang, Dean of the School of Marxism at Southwest University and a Young Changjiang Scholar [2] of the Ministry of Education, presided over the opening ceremony. Professor Cui Yanqiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Southwest University, attended and delivered a speech. Professor Cui highly affirmed the significance of this forum and expressed his hope that universities and research institutes, as well as Schools of Marxism and Schools of Economics across the country, would engage in closer exchange and cooperation to jointly advance the construction and development of the discipline of Marxist theory.
Subsequently, the conference revolved around the theme "The 70th Anniversary of the Founding of New China and the Development and Important Contributions of Marxist Political Economy." Participants delivered academic reports and engaged in heated discussions on topics such as "Disciplinary Construction of Political Economy and the Development of Young Scholars," "Historical Transformations and Basic Experiences of China's Economic Development Since the Founding of New China," "The Sinicization of Marxist Political Economy and Its Latest Achievements," "Basic Theories of Marxist Political Economy and Their Contemporary Value," and "The International Political-Economic Landscape Amidst Global Transformation and New Changes in Contemporary Capitalism."
Professor Cheng Enfu, Member of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the National People's Congress, Member of the Presidium of the CASS Academic Divisions, and CASS Academician [3], pointed out in his keynote report that the "New Marxist Economics Integrated School" [4] has produced twelve major theoretical innovations since the reform and opening up. These include: the three-stage theory of socialism; the theory of the socialist market economy; a new monist theory of labor value based on living labor; the theory of the dual nature of economic man (possessing both egoism and altruism); the theory of dual constraints of resources and needs; the theory of the positive correlation and mutual promotion of equity and efficiency; the theory of high performance in public ownership; the theory of functional dual regulation by the market and the state; the theory of "great culture" economics; the theory of intellectual property advantages; the theory of neo-imperialism; and the theory of the "quasi-center" of the world economy.
Professor Hu Leming, Deputy Director of the Institute of Economics at CASS, explained three reasons for the success of China's transitional development since the reform and opening up from the perspective of institutional change: first, the direction of transformation was clear and stable; second, the mode of transformation was proactive and incremental; and third, the path of transformation involved a two-way interaction where the government and the market promoted each other under state guidance. He noted that China's transitional development is still ongoing; social construction must be strengthened while giving full play to the agency of community governance; social values such as fairness and justice must play a regulatory role; our party politics and government governance must be further improved; and we must better achieve the "integrated interaction and symbiotic prosperity" of the government, the market, and society.
Research Fellow Yu Bin, Director of the Department of Marxist Principles at the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS, pointed out that Marx's viewpoints and Sraffa's viewpoints are antithetical. However, some have misappropriated Marx's name to construct "Marx-Sraffa models," attempting to replace Marx's correct views with the erroneous perspectives of Piero Sraffa and his successor Nobuo Okishio. Research Fellow Yu argued that the accurate term for this so-called Marx-Sraffa model should be the "Sraffa-Okishio model," which is rooted in input-output tables.
Professor Jiang Yongmu, Dean of the School of Economics at Sichuan University, noted that over the 70 years since the founding of New China, the connotation of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics has evolved through four stages: the "technology-led stage," the "dual emphasis on technology and institutions stage," "institutional-led stage 1," and "institutional-led stage 2." This has formed four major characteristics: increasingly scientific logical premises, continuously diversified target orientations, increasingly perfected core content, and gradually maturing development strategies. The evolution of this connotation toward a scientific, comprehensive, and systematic direction fundamentally stems from the firm leadership of the CPC, the adherence to a development path with Chinese characteristics, the active liberation and development of agricultural productive forces, the adjustment and improvement of agricultural relations of production, and the continuous exploration of the path for agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics.
Professor Zhou Wen, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Marxism Studies at Fudan University, pointed out that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialist Economy with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era contains seven aspects: essential characteristics and fundamental guarantees; the question of standpoint and the purpose of development; the laws of understanding; institutional issues; macro-control with Chinese characteristics; strategy and work methods; and work tactics. This thought has achieved a reconstruction of the basic concepts of modern economics. First, it emphasizes upholding the Party's centralized and unified leadership over economic work; second, it emphasizes a people-centered economic standpoint; third, it emphasizes independently following a path of modernization that suits national conditions; fourth, it elevates the promotion of a community with a shared future for humanity to the level of economic theory, transcending the comparative advantage theory of traditional international economics.
A number of young scholars—including Professor Gao Fan of Fudan University, Professor Wu Yin of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), Professor Wang Binbin of Sichuan University, Research Fellow Zhou Shaodong of Wuhan University, Associate Professor Qiao Xiaonan of Nankai University, Associate Professor Li Lili of RUC, Associate Professor Han Wenlong of SWUFE, Associate Professor Wang Feng of Southwest University, Associate Professor Zhang Guanghui of Liaoning University, Associate Professor Zhang Yang of Hebei Finance University, and Lecturer Xiao Xiao of Beijing Normal University—delivered keynote reports on the innovative development of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics, the basic theories and contemporary value of Marxist political economy, the historical changes and basic experiences of China's economic development since 1949, and technological change and future development. More than 40 other experts and young scholars spoke in sub-forums.
Finally, Research Fellow Hou Weimin, Director of a research department at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, addressed the assembly. He noted that the forum received 153 submissions during the call-for-papers stage. After expert selection, authors of nearly 120 papers were invited to attend, making it an academic feast for Chinese Marxist economics in 2019. The attending experts and young scholars engaged in thorough academic exchanges, demonstrating the solid theoretical foundation and insight into real-world issues possessed by young scholars of Marxist political economy. Hou emphasized that Marxist political economy scholars should adhere to the principle of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground in their research, persist in the basic principles of Marxism, and utilize Marxist methodology to promote new theoretical innovations in Marxist political economy.
Compared to previous years, this forum established a new "Forum on Disciplinary Construction of Political Economy and Youth Development" and held a preparatory meeting attended by heads of political economy disciplines from various universities and research institutions. Research Fellow Yang Jing of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, Secretary-General of the Forum, emphasized at the meeting the importance of building a "echelon" of young political economy scholars, improving the quality of their papers, and promoting exchanges in the field across institutions to jointly advance disciplinary construction and the development of young scholars.
Furthermore, upholding its traditions and strengths, the forum continued the practice of facilitating exchanges between editorial departments and scholars. Editors from journals such as Marxist Studies, Political Economy Review, Contemporary Economic Research, Economist, Reform, Economic Review, World Political Economy Review, Shanghai School of Economics, Finance and Economics, West Forum, Reference for Economic Research, Reform and Strategy, and Studies on Economic Theory and Policy were invited to comment on submissions, introduce their journals' selection criteria and submission requirements, and respond to questions from participants. The forum provided an excellent platform for the disciplinary development of Marxist political economy and for communication among Marxist political economy scholars nationwide.
(Contributors: Wang Feng, Wei Yiqing)