On May 19^th, Professor Richard Cooper from Harvard University Economics Department was invited to hold a lecture themed “Prospects for the World Economy: A Glimpse of 2035” at SEPKU. Dean Sun Qixiang, Director of Economics Department Ye Jingyi, Assistant Dean Qin Xuezheng, and faculties Zhang Yaguang, Hao Yu from Economics Department attended the lecture. More than 60 students in and around school participated in the event.

At the beginning of the lecture, Prof. Cooper noted that SEPKU plays an important role in China’s economics study. During the lecture, Prof. Cooper predicted the next two decades’ development trend of inertial elements which will influence economic growth. Professor Cooper focused on demographic factors, such as aging and population decline in the growth rate showed a differential manner, economic growth and income changes in spending patterns. These demands will be satisfied by increasing supply, energy conservation and environmental protection, as well as technical innovation. Although infectious diseases, terrorism and local wars will cause a huge impact, the world economy can withstand shocks. By showing the world energy consumption and the world`s major countries’ GDP data, Prof. Cooper forecasted in the lecture that China will rise while the relative importance of Europe and Japan will decline.

Professor Richard N. Cooper is Maurits C. Boas Professor of International Economics at Harvard University and has held this position since 1981. His main publications include The Economics of Interdependence, Economic Policy in an Interdependent World, The International Monetary System, Economic Stabilization and Debt in Developing Countries, Environment and Resource Policies for the World Economy, Trade Growth in Transition Economies. Prof. Cooper held high-level posts in government previously, such as Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Senior staff economist on the Council of Economic Advisers, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and Provost of Yale University. Prof. Cooper has achieved remarkable success on international economic and economic affairs analysis.