On April 9 at 5:30 PM, the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome will host the presentation of China’s Age of Abundance, authored by Wang Feng (University of California), published by Cambridge University Press in 2024.
Between the 1980s and the present day, China has experienced one of the most consequential economic transformations in world history. One-fifth of the Earth’s population has left behind a life of scarcity and subsistence for one of abundance and material comfort, while their nation has emerged as a preeminent economic and political power. In a systematic historical and sociological analysis of this unique juncture, Wang Feng charts the origins, forces, and consequences of this meteoric rise in living standards. He shifts the focus away from institutions and policies to offer new perspectives based on consumption among poorer, rural populations as a driver of global economic change. But is this ‘Age of Abundance’ coming to an end? Anticipating potential headwinds, including an aging population, increasing inequality, and intensifying political control, Wang explores whether this pre-eminence could be coming to a close.
The discussion will be moderated by Professor Massimo Livi Bacci and will feature contributions from Roberto Antonelli, President of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Ignazio Musu (Linceo; Ca’ Foscari University of Venice), Patrizia Farina (University of Milan-Bicocca), and Axel Berkofsky (University of Pavia).
The event will also be available for streaming at this link.