Date: 26 November 2025, 15:30-17:00 

Location: Corvinus University of Budapest, building C, room 209 

Language of the event: English 

This talk explores the overlooked story of China’s structural adjustment policies during the early reform and opening up period (1978–84) and the assessment provided by the IMF and the World Bank on these measures. As the PRC began its reintegration into the global capitalist system, joining the IMF and the World Bank in 1980 was a big step in this endeavour. By drawing on records from the IMF and World Bank archives, as well as Chinese newspapers and official sources, this talk spotlights the measures the PRC implemented to correct some of the macroeconomic imbalances hampering the Chinese economy in order to create solid foundations for future economic growth.  This talk argues that the IMF and the World Bank supported these measures while not significantly interfering with China’s economic sovereignty. This prudent approach was caused by China’s geopolitical importance and because of the political meaning of these reforms, domestically used to slowly abandon Maoism.