China, a country whose mystique has captivated the imagination for centuries, is now attracting the attention of the world for reasons far more pragmatic. Instead of its culture and customs, China has become known for its economy and its emergence as a key player in the global business marketplace.
Why has China suddenly become a worldwide center of attention? What has history taught us about the potential of this country with a population now over a billion? How has a country steeped in communism become poised to attain the status of economic superpower?
Continuing our series of themed issues, The State of Business answers these questions and many others. As our Executive MBA students prepare to travel to China in May, our magazine spoke with faculty, students, alumni and even a representative of the Hong Kong government to provide an in-depth account of the changing face of this vast country.
We looked first to our in-house expert Bob Oxnam, Robinson Global Scholar, whose responsibility it is to design this year's EMBA visit to China. Bob has studied the country for 38 years and has made nearly 70 trips there. As a former reporter for McNeil-Lehrer and author of several books on the subject, Bob brings to you and our students learned perspectives found nowhere else.
Other faculty offer their points of view. They include Harold Skipper, who pioneered Robinsonšs efforts in the risk management and insurance area in the Far East; Sevgin Eroglu, marketing professor and one of the leaders of previous EMBA trips to Asia; Mike Rebello, an associate finance professor who worked as a consultant in China for two years; Harvey Brightman, who, in addition to teaching in the EMBA program, spends six weeks each year as an instructor at the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai; and Jim Senn, a computer information systems professor who is working with companies to identify new opportunities in China.
We are also grateful for the cooperation of the Hong Kong government, which provided The State of Business with an exclusive article by Mike Rowse, Director-General of Investment Promotion for Invest Hong Kong. The article demonstrates how Hong Kong is aggressively seeking U.S. business investments and how the city serves as the gateway to economic growth throughout the region. Much like Japan in the '80s and '90s, China is becoming a bright spot in the global economy.
Enjoy our look at China as well as our standard features, including Rajeev Dhawan's economic outlook. As always, we welcome your comments.
Sidney E. Harris
Dean
Sidney E. Harris
Sidney E. Harris
Dean
Robinson College of Business
