Topic:
China’s Political Economy and the Path to Autocracy 3.0
Speaker:
Professor David Y Yang
Yvonne P L Lui Professor, Department of Economics; and Director of the Center for History and Economics
Harvard University
Date & Time:
Wednesday, 3 December 2025
10:30 am – 12:00pm (Singapore Time)
On-site Venue:
Seminar Room 3-1
Manasseh Meyer Building, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
NUS Bukit Timah Campus
469C Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 259772
Registration is required:
https://forms.office.com/r/rcYQfsgk09 (or scan the QR code in the poster above)
Synopsis:
Autocracy 2.0, exemplified by modern China, is economically robust, technologically advanced, globally engaged and governed through subtle, sophisticated controls. This presentation introduces Autocracy 2.0 by examining the defining features of China’s political economy and the forces that drive it. The speaker will highlight its significant shift in addressing two fundamental challenges that autocracies face: the lack of credible commitment and credible information. The discussion will also extrapolate towards Autocracy 3.0, probing its transformative potential for China’s political architecture and its potential reverberations across the global world order. The analysis draws on recent empirical research on China to demonstrate these dynamics.
About the John CH Wong Distinguished Public Lecture series
The John CH Wong Distinguished Public Lecture series is in honour of the late Professor John Wong, former research director of the East Asian Institute, who was also a teacher and mentor to EAI staff, and an intellectual leader on China’s and East Asia’s development. EAI gratefully acknowledges the support of the John CH Wong Endowment Fund and the Wong family for this series.
Note:
Registration is required for this seminar. The event is held under the Chatham House Rule.
Photography and videography may be carried out during the event by EAI for its print publications, digital platforms and/or marketing channels. The event is open to media coverage.
For enquiries, please contact the Institute at 6516 3708 / 6516 8333 or email: katherine.toh@nus.edu.sg / james_tan@nus.edu.sg
For research insights on China and policy comments on East Asia, click to read the latest issues of China: An International Journal and East Asian Policy.
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