On September 27, Nankai University hosted a symposium on strategies for expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Leading experts and scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Nankai University, Shandong University, and other universities and research institutions discussed practical constraints on household consumption growth and policy approaches to expanding domestic demand during the period.
In his address, Nankai University Vice President Sheng Bin emphasized that expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption are central to improving domestic economic circulation and strengthening endogenous growth momentum. Focusing on theoretical and policy questions related to consumption expansion, the symposium examined the issues from microeconomic, macroeconomic, financial, income distribution, and demographic perspectives. It sought to advance theoretical and policy research on major practical challenges facing the 15th Five-Year Plan period and contribute to an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
Yang Nina, Editor-in-Chief of Changbai Journal, stated that academic journals should actively serve as platforms for presenting research and promoting scholarly exchange. She called for the publication of forward-looking, innovative, and practically relevant research to enhance its social impact and its effectiveness in informing policy.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Liu Binglian, Dean of CESD, Nankai University.
During the expert discussions, participants examined factors shaping households’ purchasing power and expectations, including employment and income, income distribution, social security, and public services. They also discussed demographic change, adjustments in the real estate sector, consumption policies, services consumption, and supply–demand relationships. Additional topics included the relationship between effective investment and consumption growth, and between expanding domestic demand and developing external demand, offering multiple perspectives on policies to boost consumption.
Paper presentations and discussant sessions addressed the allocation of research and development resources, firm behavior, supply chain adjustments, environmental policies and labor markets, and the cross-regional deployment of digital infrastructure. Presentations were followed by comments and discussion.
The symposium was jointly hosted by Nankai University’s School of Economics and CESD, the editorial office of Changbai Journal, the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University, and the China Academy of Wealth Economics at Nankai University. It was organized by Nankai University’s Laboratory for Economic Behavior and Policy Simulation, Center for New Structural Economics, and Institute of Industrial Economics. Journal support was provided by The Journal of World Economy, Reform, Journal of New Structural Economics, Consumer Economics, Nankai Economic Studies, and Changbai Journal.
