ECO2006 Hong Kong Economy

Department
Economics and Finance
Semester
AY2011/12 Sem 1, AY2012/13 Sem 1, AY2012/13 Sem 2, AY2013/14 Sem 1, AY2013/14 Sem 2, AY2014/15 Sem 1, AY2014/15 Sem 2, AY2016/17 Sem 1, AY2017/18 Sem 1, AY2018/19 Sem 1, AY2019/20 Sem 1, AY2019/20 Summer Sem, AY2020/21 Sem 1, AY2020/21 Sem 2, AY2020/21 Summer Sem, AY2021/22 Sem 1, AY2021/22 Sem 2, AY2022/23 Sem 1, AY2022/23 Sem 2, AY2023/24 Sem 1, AY2023/24 Sem 2
Method
Lecture 3 hours
Cluster
2 (Social Sciences)

Prerequisite

GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education

Exclusion

Nil

Module Description

This module aims at enabling students to comprehend and analyse Hong Kong’s economy based upon the scientific method for which observing real life data. The module emphasizes upon the analysis of the operation of major economic sectors and related policies against the social and political background of Hong Kong. Module topics include an overview of Hong Kong economy, business cycles and economic growth, government-business relations, monetary and financial system, labour market and unemployment, income inequality and poverty, and property market and housing policy.

Module Intended Learning Outcomes (MILO)

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to: 
a. demonstrate economic and political concepts relevant to the study of Hong Kong economy; 
b. distinguish the features of the development of Hong Kong economy at different stages;
c. evaluate the role of government in the economic development of Hong Kong economy and current economic issues are anatomized; and 
d. apply relevant economic and political concepts to analyse the workings of the major economic sectors and related policies against the social and political background of Hong Kong.

Module Content

1. An overview of Hong Kong economy

2. Historical development of Hong Kong economy 

3. Business cycles and economic growth 

4. Government-business relations

5. Monetary and financial system 

6. Labour market and unemployment 

7. Income inequality and poverty 

8. Property market and housing policy

9. Market competition and competition policy 

10. External trade and foreign investment

Assessment Methods

1. Class participation (10%)
2. Presentation (10%)
3. Quiz (15%)
4. Term paper (25%)
5. Examination (40%)

Texts & References

1. Cheung, Anthony B.L. (2000). New Interventionism in the Making: interpreting state interventions in Hong Kong after the change of sovereignty, Journal of Contemporary China, 9(24), pp. 291–308
2. Cheung, Anthony B.L. (2013). Public governance reform in Hong Kong: rebuilding trust and governability, International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 26 Iss 5 pp. 421 – 436.
3. DiPeitro, William R. and Anoruo, Emmanuel (2012). Government size, public debt and real economic growth: a panel analysis, Journal of Economic Studies, Vol. 39 Iss 4 pp. 410 – 419.
4. Freeman, Richard B. (2007). Labour market institutions around the world, National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper 13242.
5. Goodstadt, F.G. (2009). Uneasy Partners: the conflict Between Public Interest and Private Profit in Hong Kong, Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
6. Hong Kong SAR Government (2013). Hong Kong Population Policy 2013.
7. Hong Kong SAR Government (2012). 2011 Population Census Household Income Distribution in Hong Kong.
8. Hong Kong Monetary Authority (2005). Hong Kong’s Linked Exchange Rate System.
9. Hong Kong SAR Government, Budget Speeches 2016.
10. Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong Yearbooks 2016.
11. Hong Kong SAR Government, Quarter Economic Report 2017.
12. Latter, T. (2007). Hong Kong’s Money: The History, Logic and Operation of the Currency Peg, Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
13. Law K.Y and Lee K.M. (2004). The Economy of Hong Kong in Non-economic Perspectives, Hong Kong: Oxford University Press.
14. Lui, Tai-lok and Chiu, Stephen W.K. (2007). Governance Crisis in Post-1997 Hong Kong, The China Review, Vol.7, No.2.
15. Okemakinde, T. and Olaniyan, D.A. (2008). Human Capital Theory: Implications for Educational Development. European Journal of Scientific ResearchVol.24 No.2, pp.157-162.
16. Pauwels, Laurent and Zhang, Zhiwei (2008). How flexible is the labor market in Hong Kong? Some statistical observations, Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
17. Prasad, Biman C. (2003). Institutional economics and economic development, International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 30 Iss 6 pp. 741 – 762.
18. World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Report 2017.
19. 潘慧嫻 (2010). 地產霸權: Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong 香港: 天窗出版社