Introduction to NSE Special Research Fund

I. The Objective

“New Structural Economics (NSE)” is proposed and championed by Professor Justin Yifu Lin. NSE proposes to use neoclassical economic approach to study the determinants of economic structure, including technology, industry, infrastructure and institution, and its evolution in the process of economic development. The starting point of analysis in NSE is an economy’s endowments and endowments structure, which are given at any specific time and changeable over times. From the perspective of NSE, the best way to achieve dynamic, inclusive and sustainable growth in a country is for the country to develop its industries according to the comparative advantage determined by its endowments in a market economy with a facilitating state. The NSE has been endorsed by renowned economists worldwide including more than ten Nobel Laureates and its application has received attention from scholars and policymakers in developing countries. As the third wave of development thinking, NSE aims to advance theoretical innovations in economics discipline by systematically analyzing structural differences between advanced economies and developing economies. The NSE Special Research Funding is initiated by Center for New Structural Economics at Peking University with the initial fund of RMB 1,000,000, which aims to promote rigorous theoretical and empirical research of New Structural Economics. The NSE Special Research Funding program offers two options: One is the Promising Scholars Fund (PSF) that targets post-doctors and scholars while the other one, Young Academic Talents Award (YATA), targets undergraduates and postgraduates. At the same time, we set up the NSE Paper Award and NSE Data Award. Besides, we’re also planning to organize an NSE Special Research Fund Workshop in December 2016, providing opportunities to exchange ideas for outstanding scholars as well as students who’re supported by our program.

II. The Academic Review Committee

The Center for NSE will invite scholars, who have solid theoretical and empirical background and are familiar with development economics, especially the NSE, to form the Academic Review Committee for NSE Special Research Fund. Professor Justin Yifu Lin, the honorary dean of the National School of Development (NSD) at Peking University will be the chairman of the Academic Review Committee. Members of the committee will serve as mentors of selected teams (or individuals), providing academic guidance during the second-round review, mid-term evaluation and final evaluation.

III. Implementation of NSESRF

1.YATA Program: This program aims to award outstanding (or individuals). Each selected undergraduate team (or individuals) will receive RMB 8,000 Yuan. Each selected graduate team (or individuals) will receive RMB 15,000 Yuan.

2. PSF Program: This program aims to encourage post-doctoral researchers and young scholars to proactively apply the NSE to their own research. Each selected team (or individuals) will receive RMB 30,000 Yuan.

3. New Structural Economics Paper Award: The Center for NSE will grant awards to research teams (or individuals) that are supported by YATA program or PSF program and have published their research papers in academic journals. The award will be up to RMB 25,000.

4. New Structural Economics Data Award: The Center for NSE will grant awards to research teams (or individuals) that collect and share research data (both raw and processed data) which helps to advance the NSE empirical research. The award will range from RMB 1,000 to RMB 5,000.

5. Excellent researchers will have the opportunity to present their papers at the NSE Special Research Fund Workshop followed by the NSE International Conference held in December every year.

6. Apart from the above, the Center for NSE will provide the following opportunities for award winners as well:
(1) Opportunities to exchange ideas with renowned economists including Professor Justin Yifu Lin;
(2) Opportunities to participate in research programs at the Center for New Structural Economics;
(3) Opportunities to be recommended by the Center for New Structural Economics to publish research papers in top academic journals;
(4) Opportunities to participate in the NSE Advanced Methodology Workshop and Summer School.

The applicants are expected to draft a research proposal (you don't need to submit perfect research fruits here). The deadline for the application is 24 pm (Beijing time) on November 16th, 2015. For any details, please click here http://www.nsd.edu.cn/academic/scientific-research/NSE/index.html. If you have any questions about our program, please email us at nseresearch@nsd.pku.edu.cn. Welcome to follow our Wechat official account by scanning the two-dimension code below.