05 February 2009

University talk on the `new rich´ in China

There is no denying the importance of China to the world economy at present and some claim in the next 20 – 25 years China will have overtaken the USA to become the dominant country of the world. Staff and students at the University of Sheffield will have the chance to listen to Professor David Goodman, an expert in Chinese Politics, talk around the topic on 11 February 2009 .

Professor David Goodman, the editor of The New Rich in China (Routledge 2008), will visit the University to give a talk about the `new rich´ in China. Professor Goodman is Professor of Chinese Politics and Director of the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Sydney. His research is concerned with social and political change in China both now, and in the last century. He has authored and edited more than thirty books on China and been published in top journals such as British Journal of Political Science and China Quarterly.

Professor Xiaowei Zang, head of the University´s School of East Asian Studies, commented: "It is fantastic to have a man of David´s knowledge coming to talk to the University about such a current and interesting issue. I am excited to hear what he has to say about who the middle classes in China-the third large group of luxury goods consumers in the world-are, and how they have gained this status."

Professor Dominic Shellard, the University´s Pro-Vice-Chancellor of External Affairs and Professor Tony Payne, the University´s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the faculty of Social Sciences will meet with Professor Goodman.