China Economic Panel - ZEW and Fudan University Launch First Monthly Survey of Economic and Financial Data on China

The Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim and Fudan University in Shanghai launch the joint project "China Economic Panel" (CEP) in July 2013. The objective of the panel is to investigate China's growing weight in the world economy on the basis of a monthly survey of economic data. In cooperation with the Financial Research Center of Fudan University, ZEW economists survey China experts from financial, research, and economics departments of banks, insurance companies, investment companies, and industrial enterprises located in China, Germany, and further countries.

The experts give their assessment of China's current economic situation and of the expected development on a six-month time horizon. The experts also assess selected financial and fundamental economic data of the People's Republic, i.e. GDP growth, inflation, interest rates, various stock market indices, exchange rates, and real estate prices. CEP participants deliver in part point forecasts, in part directional forecasts. The first publication of results is scheduled for July 10, 2013, at 10 a.m.

ZEW has maintained good relationships with research institutions in China for several years. Fudan University, ZEW's cooperation partner in the CEP project, is one of China's leading universities. “Collaborating with our partners in China ensures that assessments from Chinese experts are included in the survey. The view from the country's inside substantiates the picture of China's economic development. That's why the cooperation with Fudan University is extremely valuable,” says Dr. Gunnar Lang, deputy head of ZEW's Research Department of International Finance and Financial Management. 

The Centre for European Economic Research has designed and conducted surveys on business and economic data for many years. The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment, one of the major early indicators for Germany and the euro area, has been compiled by ZEW researchers for more than 20 years. Moreover, the institute has been conducting expert surveys in cooperation with Credit Suisse and Erste Group Bank on the economic situation and development in Switzerland, Austria, and several Eastern European countries on a regular basis.  

Additional information on the China Economic Panel (CEP)

Dr. Gunnar Lang, Phone +49 621/1235-372, E-mail lang@zew.de