Review of History

One of the predecessors of the IWEP is the Section of World Economy of the Institute of
Economy in the Chinese Academy of Science. According to the instructions of Chairman
Mao Zedong in 1963, the Institute of World Economy of the Chinese Academy of Science
was formally established on May 19, 1964.  In 1977 the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
was formally established. It was based on the former Division of Philosophy and Social
Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.  IWEP became one of its subordinate
institutes.  In December 1980, part of the Institute of World Politics and the Institute of World
Economy were combined to establish the Institute of World Economics and Politics.

Guidelines for the Institute

The major tasks of the Institute of World Economy at its establishment were to provide each
department of the central government with reports and reference materials about the world
economy and to serve economic construction in China.
Since early on researchers in IWEP have been providing important reference for economic
reform, opening up to the outside world the economic development paths in China through
the review and introduction of foreign economic systems, economic reforms, economic
policies, development strategies and economic practices.

Research Section and Disciplinary Construction

Since October 1998, according to the actual needs of reform and opening up in China and
the conditions of the institute and international standards, IWEP has adjusted its disciplines
and research sections.  Eight research sections have been founded:  Research Section of
International Finance, Research Section of International Trade,  Research Section of Statistics
and Modelling,  Research Section of Multinational Corporations,Research Section  of Industrial
Policy, Research Section of World Economic Research Section of International Relations, and
Research Section of International Strategy.  The institute attaches great importance to
disciplinary development and the gradual integration of its research work with international
standards.  The discipline of world economic statistics, the discipline of international trade and
the discipline of international politics have been combinedinto “Key Disciplinary Development
Projects” of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Research Projects and Publications

According to incomplete statistics, from 1977 to 2005, among the scientific research results
completed by IWEP, there were over 230 monographs and over 7,510 academic papers and
research reports. From 1977 to 2003, IWEP undertook 3 state major projects during the period
of “the Sixth Five-Year Plan”, 3 major projects during the period of “the Seventh Five-Year
Plan”, 3 major projects during the period of “the Eighth Five-Year Plan”, 1 major project
during the period of “the Ninth Five-Year Plan”, and 1 major project during the period of
“the Tenth Five-Year Plan”. Since the period of “the Seventh Five-Year Plan”, IWEP has
undertaken 17 ordinary projects for the state social science fund, 3 youth projects for the social
science fund, 18 major projects for the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 38 key projects for
the Academy, 3 bid programs for the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 14 youth fund
projects for the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and 9 basic projects sponsored by the fund of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.  According to incomplete statistics, since 1981, 93
results have won awards above the level of ministry or academic special awards.

Research Staff

There are 105 in-service staff in IWEP. Among 82 professional personnel, there are 25 senior
fellows, 55 research fellows; 26 researchers holding a doctorate and 32 holding a master's
degree; 37 researchers are under 40 years old.  Among the in-service researchers, 7 people are
Ph.D supervisors, 10 are Masters supervisors, and 2 are supervisors for postdoctoral students.

IWEP Periodicals

“The Yellow Book of International Economy”—Analysis and Forecast of World Economic
Situation and “Yellow Book of International Politics”— Report on International Politics and
Security edited and published by IWEP every year have gained commendation from the reading
public.
IWEP sponsors 5 journals: The Journal of World Economy, Journal of World Economics and
Politics, International Economic Review, China & World Economy, and The Year Book of World
Economy. These journals have gained favorable comments from  domestic and even
international academic circles.  

Academic Exchanges with Foreign Institutions

IWEP conducts various forms of academic exchanges with foreign institutions, for example,
researchers’ short-term visits to a foreign country, receiving visits of foreign scholars, holding
international academic symposia regularly or irregularly, attending advanced studies in a foreign
country, international cooperative studies and the holding of biweekly ambassador forums etc. 
Meanwhile, IWEP has established good communication and cooperative relationships with the
United Nations and the organizations that belong to it as well as with universities and scientific
research institutions in many countries. 

Teaching and Cultivation of Talent

IWEP has also been cultivating many senior professionals engaged in the studies of theories of
world economics and international politics.  From 1978 to 2006, the Department of World
Economics and Politics cultivated 145 master students and 105 Ph.D students.  From 1993 to
2006, the mobile postdoctoral station established in IWEP accepted 34 postdoctoral researchers to come into the station to be engaged in studies.

Status and Influence in the Academic Circle

As a state and research institute of issues in world economics and international politics, IWEP
has been making due contributions to being a “think tank” for the government and providing
valuable decision-making reference for the government. The Party and State attach great
importance to the institute.  It occupies an important position in academic circles and enjoys a
good reputation. 

Research Centers and Social Organizations

The research centers established by or affiliated with IWEP include: the Chinese Society of World
Economics, the Chinese Research Society of East European and Central Asian Economy, the
World Economy Research Center of CASS, The Third World Research Center of CASS, the
Research Center for International Finance of IWEP, the U.S. Economy Research Center of IWEP,
the Global Merger and Acquisition Research Center of IWEP, the China Center for Corporate
Governance of IWEP, the World Economic History Research Center of IWEP, and the World
Economy Development Research Center of IWEP.