Rural Development Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

I. Overview

Established in August 1978 and known as the Institute of Agricultural Economics before 1985, the Rural Development Institute (RDI) is a national academic institution specializing in the studies of China's rural issues under the Academic Division of Economics of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) which is the premier academic organization affiliated with the State Council and comprehensive research center in the fields of philosophy and social sciences in China.

RDI encompasses 10 research divisions, 1 editorial office, 2 functional divisions, 1 think tank, 5 non-entity research centers, 6 affiliated national societies, as well as RDI Post-doctoral Research Program and the Department of Rural Development of CASS Graduate School. At the end of February 2019, there were 81 employees, of whom 44 had obtained senior titles, 56 had obtained doctor’s degree, and 14 had obtained master’s degree.

Renowned economists and management scientists, such as Wu Zhan, Guichen Wang, Jiyuan Chen, Xiaoshan Zhang and Zhou Li, have served in succession as RDI’s Director General. The current leaders are Prof. Dr. Houkai Wei (Director General), Prof. Dr. Zhixiong Du (Deputy Director General), Mr. Chaofeng Huang (Deputy Director General) and Prof. Dr. Peng Yuan (Deputy Director General).

II. Missions and Research Areas

The missions are:

(I)   to explore the law of economic and social development in rural areas in China;

(II)  to provide the research-based policy solutions and advices on rural development;

(III) to become a national-leading research center that exerts influence in the world, a personnel-training base and a top think tank through the academic research, decision consultation, personnel training, editing and publishing in the field of agricultural, rural and peasant studies.

The research areas mainly include rural economic analysis and forecast, theory and policy of rural development, rural governance, rural organizations and institutions, urban-rural relations and development planning, rural industrial and regional economy, rural poverty and farmers' welfare, rural ecological environment and resource conservation, agricultural market and trade, rural finance and banking, land economy and rural human resources, rural informatization and urbanization.

III. Organizational Structure

(I) Research Divisions

Research Division for Rural Governance

In 2014, the Research Division for Rural Governance was built on the Research Division for Rural Macro Economy formed in 1994 whose predecessor is the Research Division for Rural Macroeconomic Management founded in 1988. Since 2014, it has undertaken 29 projects and accomplished nearly 200 publications, including 5 monographs, 49 core journal papers and 31 policy proposals. It provides a platform for the CASS Advantage Discipline "Rural Development Economics".

Research area: rural development economics.

Research directions: rural public policy, rural governance, rural reform and development, rural public services, and rural grass-roots organizations.

Research Division for Rural Organizations and Institutions

Its predecessor is the Research Team on People's Commune founded in 1978. Its previous names include Research Division for Rural Economic Organizations and Institutions during 1994-2015, Research Division for Rural Economic Organizations during 1988-1994, Research Division for Rural Cooperative Economics during 1986-1988, Research Division for Cooperative Economics during 1983-1986, and Economic Research Division for People's Commune before 1983. Since 2011, it has undertaken over 70 projects and accomplished over 300 publications, including more than 50 monographs, more than 150 core journal papers and more than 80 policy proposals.

Research area: rural organizations and institutions.

Research directions: rural cooperative economy, agricultural management system, rural social security, new types of agribusiness, peasant household economy and rural social organizations.

Research Division for Urban-Rural Relations and Development Planning

In 2014, the Research Division for Urban-Rural Relations and Development Planning was built by the Research Team of the Innovative Project of China's Urban-rural Relations. It has since its inception carried out 16 projects and published 96 results, including 9 monographs, 50 core journal papers and 37 policy proposals.

Research area: urban-rural relations and development planning.

Research directions: theories and policies of urban-rural relations, urban-rural integration, urban-rural income distribution, urban-rural development strategy and planning, suburban economy, and urban-rural labor migration.

Research Division for Rural Industrial Economics

Founded in 1988, the Research Division for Rural Industrial Economics is preceded by the Research Division for Forestry, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries merged by the three respective research divisions. It underpins the Research Center for National Dairy Industry and Technology System. Since 2011, it has undertaken 28 projects and delivered more than 90 publications, including 10 monographs, 30 core journal papers and 15 policy proposals.

Research area: rural industrial economics.

Research directions: national food security, rural industrial structure and industrial layout, rural industrial organizations, rural industrial polices, and forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries.

Research Division for Poverty and Well-being

The Research Division for Poverty and Well-being was referred to as Research Division for Poverty and Development Finance during 1999-2012 and Rural Social and Poverty Research during 1994-1999. Its predecessor is the Research Team of Mountainous Areas and Poverty Problems established in 1988. Since 2012, it has undertaken 40 projects and delivered more than 80 publications, including 9 monographs, 45 core journal papers and various policy proposals. The Division is also the platform on which the CASS Center for Poverty Research and CASS Key Discipline of "Poverty and Well-being Research" are based.

Research area: rural poverty and well-being of rural residents.

Research directions: measurement and monitoring of rural poverty and well-being of rural residents, causes of poverty, poverty and well-being changes, poverty alleviation and well-being policies, and poverty and well-being impact assessment of public policies.

Research Division for Rural Environmental and Ecological Economics

Before 2015, the Research Division for Rural Environmental and Ecological Economics was known as the Research Division for Ecological Economics established in 1987. Since 2011, it has undertaken 65 projects and delivered more than 315 publications, including 56 monographs, 130 core journal papers and over 100 policy proposals. Relying on it, the CASS Research Center for Eco-Environmental Economics was set up.

Research area: rural environmental and ecological economics.

Research directions: ecological economic theory, ecosystem service value, sustainable resource utilization and management, rural ecological and environmental management, ecological compensation, and ecological environment policy.

Research Division for Agricultural Market and Trade

Since inception in 2016, the Research Division for Agricultural Market and Trade has undertaken over 10 projects, published one monograph and more than 50 papers, and submitted more than 50 policy proposals and think tank reports.

Research area: agricultural market and trade.

Research directions: agricultural market operation and control, agricultural products and food prices, import and export of agricultural products, agricultural products purchase and storage system, agricultural support policies, and border control of agricultural products.

Research Division for Rural Finance

Since its inception in 2015, the Research Division for Rural Finance has undertaken 15 projects, accomplished more than 100 publications, including 5 monographs, 28 core and authoritative journal papers, 38 general journal papers and 13 research reports, submitted 11 policy proposals, and attended composing of 13 collected papers.

Research area: rural finance.

Research directions: development finance theory, agricultural and rural investment and financing system and policy, inclusive finance and microfinance, rural cooperative finance, farmland finance, rural internet finance, rural private finance, rural financing guarantee system, agricultural insurance, and agricultural value-chain finance.

Research Division for Economics of Land & Human Resources

Since its inception in 2015, the Research Division for Economics of Land & Human Resources has undertaken more than 30 research projects, published 5 monographs and over 60 SSCI/SCI papers, and submitted more than 30 policy proposals. It also serves as a platform for the CASS Key Discipline of "Agricultural Modernization Research".

Research area: land economics; economics and management of human resources.

Research directions: land system, land markets, land use planning, new professional farmers, rural education and skills training, and rural talent policies, modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

Research Division for Rural Informatization and Urbanization

It was founded in 2017. In the recent years, the team members chaired or participated in more than 30 projects entrusted by the national science foundations, state ministries or local governments in the fields of urbanization, urban and rural integration, urban development and agriculture and rural informatization, published more than 40 achievements, including 4 books, more than 30 papers in core journals, over 10 reports in Annual Report on Urban Development of China (Blue Book of Cities in China) and over 10 policy proposals.

Research area: agriculture and rural informatization, and urbanization.

Research directions: new-type urbanization, urban and rural integration, small town construction, village and town development planning, citizenization, agriculture and rural informatization, wisdom village / digital village, and rural e-commerce.

 (II) Publishing Department and Publications

Editorial Office of Chinese Rural Economy and China Rural Survey

The Editorial Office under RDI edits and publishes two state-level academic journals entitled Chinese Rural Economy and China Rural Survey, respectively. Professor Houkai Wei, RDI’s Director General, serves as the Editor-in-Chief and Professor Xiaoshan Zhang, CASS Academic Division member, leads the Editorial Board.

Chinese Rural Economy and China Rural Survey

Chinese Rural Economy is an economic monthly focusing on agriculture, rural areas and farmers and China Rural Survey is an academic bimonthly covering rural economy, politics, society, law, culture and education. According to the Annual Report for Chinese Academic Journal Impact Factors (2018), among the 51 agricultural economic journals, the citation index (1369) of "Chinese Rural Economy" ranked first, and the journal impact factor (5.302) of "China Rural Survey" ranked first. They have now become essential reads on China's rural studies for China's theoretical research institutions, colleges and universities, government agencies, and policy research departments at all levels. The two journals are also subscribed by some well-known universities and research institutions abroad.

Analysis and Forecast on China’s Rural Economy

First published in 1992 and known as "Green Book of Rural Area", Analysis and Forecast on China’s Rural Economy is an annual research report compiled by RDI together with the Department of Rural Socio-Economic Survey of National Bureau of Statistics. Characterized by annual analysis and forecast of the rural economy, the Green Book provides an objective assessment of agricultural and rural economic operation and market in the previous year and looks ahead to agricultural and rural economic situation and development trend of the current year. It also includes special studies on major and hot issues according to the state and social needs, which offers an important reference to China's research, policy-making and practice on agriculture and rural economy.

China’s Rural Development Report

First published in 2016, China’s Rural Development Report is an RDI-led annual research report that consists of the general report and reports on special topics according to the annual theme. It focuses on major theoretical and practical issues concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers and has important value in decision reference and practical guidance.

Report on China's Rural Development Studies

First published in 2000, Report on China's Rural Development Studies is a collection of selected papers and reports of RDI researchers published from time to time (every 2-3 years), which mirrors RDI's scientific research strength and level.

Annual Report on Poverty Reduction of China

Referred to as "Blue Book of Poverty Reduction" and first published in 2016, Annual Report on Poverty Reduction of China is a series of annual research reports authored, published and released by RDI mobilized by CASS. The Blue Book consists of the general report, report on special studies and report on case studies. It reports, interprets and analyzes China's poverty reduction process in a comprehensive, objective and professional way, showing China's achievements of poverty alleviation and development. While sharing China's poverty reduction experience, the Blue Book promotes China's progress of poverty alleviation and development probing into the challenges and contexts of poverty alleviation.

Agricultural, Rural and Peasant Studies in China

First published in July 2017, Agricultural, Rural and Peasant Studies in China is a collection of policy advices from the “Special Research Reports” edited by the Center for Urban-Rural Development Studies, CASS and is usually published annually. This book delves into the important and hot issues with the characteristics of both theoretical research and policy analysis, which reflects not only the originality and frontier of the academic research but the contribution of social sciences researchers as well.

 (III) Functional Divisions

General Office

Its responsibilities include 1) daily management, including documentation, rule and regulation improvement, financial and material management, security and confidentiality, administrative and logistics services, and document archiving; 2) personnel management, covering staff deployment, senior expert management, title promotion, appointment and dismissal, annual assessment, personnel archives, wages and benefits, staff education and training, and post-doctoral management; 3) organizations and coordination for leadership affairs; 4) work on retired staff; and 5) tasks assigned by CASS leaders, CASS functional divisions and RDI leaders.

Research Coordination Division

It is responsible for 1) organizing and coordinating research activities and innovative projects; 2) organizing and coordinating academic activities and important seminars; 3) organizing and managing academic exchange activities; 4) coordinating postgraduates’ education; 5) providing daily management of academic communities and centers as commissioned; and 6) archiving annual research projects and findings, academic activities and related research materials.

(IV) Think Tank

Center for Urban-Rural Development Studies, CASS

Founded on September 6, 2016, the center is a new-type high-end platform for studies on agriculture, rural areas and farmers by mainly RDI scholars, as well as officials from ministries and experts of research institutions. The mission is to carry out forward-looking, systematic, targeted and inventory policy research serving for decisions and policies through consultation. The center has a council, academic committee and secretariat and publishes the Research Briefing on a regular basis. The secretariat is also responsible for the routine work and services for academic activities of the Council of the National Conference on Cooperation Network of Rural Economy for Academies of Social Sciences.

National Conference on Cooperation Network of Rural Economy for Academies of Social Sciences

Initiated by RDI in 2005, the conference is held alternately by local academies of social sciences and has risen into a well-known important platform for academic exchange and cooperation on studies of agriculture, rural areas and farmers. The First Session of Council was elected in the 12^th conference in 2016.

(V) Research Centers

i. CASS Non-entity Research Centers

Research Center for Ecological and Environmental Economics, CASS

Founded in 1994, the Research Center for Ecological and Environmental Economics, CASS carries out academic studies in the field of eco-environmental economics and creates a platform for academic communication and cooperation for those engaged in eco-environmental economic research through research projects, policy advice, special training, technical conferences and academic exchanges.

CASS Center for Poverty Research

Founded in 1996, the CASS Center for Poverty Research aims to promote the study of poverty alleviation theories, experiences and policies, to improve national poverty alleviation policies and poverty governance and management capabilities, and to share poverty alleviation experience with other countries. The main scope of business include theoretical and policy research, experiment and innovation of poverty reduction patterns, training of poverty reduction human resources, and policy and project consultation and evaluation in poverty alleviation.

ii. RDI Non-entity Research Centers

RDI Research Center for Cooperative Economics, CASS

Founded in 2008, the RDI Research Center for Cooperative Economics, CASS aims to enhance the level of research on cooperative economics and boost cooperative development in China by strengthening cooperation between academic institutions and governments and non-governmental organizations. It conducts the basic theoretical study of cooperative economy and comparative study of laws, policies and practices of Chinese and international farmers' cooperatives and holds international serial lectures and forums on cooperatives development.

RDI Research Center for Social Issues, CASS

Built in 2007 on the Research Division for Rural Organizations and Institutions, the RDI Research Center for Social Issues, CASS carries out localized cross-disciplinary studies of social issues in Chinese rural areas related to rural vitalization from the perspectives of political science, sociology and economics, covering the basic theory, empirical research and policies.  Its main task is to conduct the multi-disciplinary, comprehensive, theoretical and policy research on major social issues in China's rural areas from the perspective of social justice and institutional culture.

RDI Research Center for Animal Husbandry Economics, CASS

Founded in 2002, the RDI Research Center for Animal Husbandry Economics, CASS is committed to the survey and economic research on policies, practices and theories of Chinese animal husbandry, providing policy solutions for the government, guiding for the development of animal husbandry, consulting and suggesting for the enterprises. Its main tasks include academic studies, training and consulting activities, academic conferences, and domestic and international academic exchanges and cooperation.

(VI) Affiliated Societies

Chinese Ecological Economics Society

Founded in 1984, the Chinese Ecological Economics Society consists of 12 specialized committees, covering theory and development, rural ecological economy, forestry ecological economy, regional ecological economy, urban ecological economy, resources and environmental economy, ecological economic education, ecological restoration, industrial ecological economy and technology, circular economy, ecological economy of land subsidence, and marine ecological economy. The mission is to unite the national eco-economic researchers to carry out academic research and exchanges for the prosperity and development of eco-economic science and the achievement of sustainable development. The main tasks include 1) eco-economic academic exchanges, focusing on discussion and scientific investigation into eco-economic issues; 2) compilation compiling and publishing of eco-economic journals, as well as domestic and international academic books and materials; 3) carrying out related consulting activities

China Society of Forestry, Animal Husbandry and Fishery Economics

Founded in 1979, the China Society of Forestry, Animal Husbandry and Fishery Economics has 6 specialized committees, including forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, feed economy, beef cattle economy and pig economy. The society aims to promote China's industrial development, policy making, academic research, and international exchanges and cooperation in the field of forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries by putting in place the platform for communication among industries, academic and research institutions, as well as government agencies. To this end, it 1) organizes academic exchanges and studies for members; 2) undertakes research projects commissioned by the relevant departments, local governments and enterprises; 3) provides information and advice on forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries for the relevant departments and enterprises; and 4) compiles and publishes academic works and internal publications.

Chinese Association for Promoting County and Township Economic Interchanges

Founded in 1992, the Chinese Association for Promoting County and Township Economic Interchanges is comprised of Microfinance Development Society, Development Promotion Committee for County-Level Financial Institutions, Characteristic Industry Specialty Committee, Low-Carbon Economy Specialty Committee, Tourism Development Specialty Committee. The mission is to fully use and tap resource advantages in various regions and in all aspects by building a platform for exchanges among cities, counties and towns, so as to contribute to economic prosperity and social harmony of towns and counties in China. Its main tasks include 1) establishment and development of horizontal economic networks of cities, counties and towns; 2) organization of inter-regional economic and technological exchanges and cooperation, to promote the development of poverty-stricken areas; and 4) development of human resources to nurture talents for modern market economy.

Chinese Society of Foreign Agricultural Economy

Established in 1982, the Chinese Society of Foreign Agricultural Economy aims to promote the research and exchange on foreign agricultural economy and international agricultural economy, trade and cooperation. To achieve this purpose, it organizes members to carry out academic exchanges and studies, undertakes research projects commissioned by domestic and foreign relevant departments and organizations, and provides foreign agricultural research, consulting and cooperation services for relevant departments at home and abroad. Currently the society has 600 registered members.

Chinese Association of Suburban Economic Studies

Founded in 1986, the Chinese Association of Suburban Economic Studies is committed to studying agriculture, rural areas and farmers in existing and prospective urban areas and providing policy advices and consultation at the central and local levels. Since its inception, the association has delivered nearly 20 recommendations to the central government through China Status Proofs compiled by the Xinhua News Agency. With focus on suburban economy, the association 1) conducts studies on suburban economic theories, practices and policies to facilitate the discipline construction on suburban economics in China and domestic and international academic exchanges and economic cooperation; 2) undertakes research projects commissioned by the central and local departments and provides advisory services; 3) compiles and publishes journals, yearbooks and academic monographs and carries out knowledge dissemination and training activities.

China Western Development Promotion Association

Founded in 2006, the China Western Development Promotion Association aims to contribute to economic and social development of the western region while strictly abiding by the constitution and relevant laws, regulations and policies, complying with social morality and ethnic minority customs. To achieve this purpose, the association 1) timely mobilizes relevant experts and scholars to conduct investigation and study into problems encountered in the western development process, and offers opinions and suggestions on solutions for the local authorities and relevant departments; 2) organizes and builds platforms for exchange and cooperation among the eastern, central and western regions, and encourages communication on investment and social, economic and cultural development to open up channels of cooperation for mutual benefit and common development; and 3) cultivates talents applicable to the western region through training and tutoring.

(VII) Education and Training

Department of Rural Development, CASS Graduate School

Relying on RDI, the Department of Rural Development at CASS Graduate School bears the task of postgraduate education in agricultural and forest economics and management and regional economics.

It is the first department which was authorized after China’s reform and opening up to enroll postgraduates in agricultural economics and confer the master's degree and the doctor’s degree. In January 2000, the department became capable of granting first-level discipline degrees in agricultural and forest economics and management, and in May 2016, granting doctoral and master degrees in regional economics. Since 1978, 194 candidates have obtained doctor’s degree and 175 have obtained master’s degree. Currently, there are 70 students, 21 doctoral supervisors and 25 master supervisors including a CASS Academic Division Member. Professor Zhixiong Du, RDI’s Deputy Director General, serves as the current Dean.

RDI Post-doctoral Research Program

Launched in 1997, RDI Post-doctoral Research Program covers 1 first-level discipline of agricultural and forest economics and management, and 2 second-level disciplines: agricultural economics and management as well as forest economics and management. Since its inception, the program has recruited more than 90 post-doctoral scholars, and over 60 among them had accomplished their research objectives.

IV. Research Achievements

In accordance with the requirements of the central government for the construction of "ideological library" and "think tank", RDI has continuously consolidated and developed its traditional advantages that form a relatively deep academic background after years of development. Moreover, it has accomplished numerous representative and groundbreaking research results with considerable influences among domestic academia and policy-making departments. The published works and papers have won academic awards at the provincial and ministerial level or above. In some research areas, RDI occupies a leading position in China and has certain influence on an international scale. It has published more than 300 monographs, reports and anthologies in recent years, and completes about four million words of papers, reports, and reviews each year. Up to present, nearly 60 achievements made by the RDI have been honored the National Science and Technology Progress Award, Sun Yefang Economic Science Prize, China Rural Development Research Award, CASS awards and other ministerial and provincial awards.

V. Academic Exchanges

Through frequent academic exchanges and cooperative projects, RDI has maintained extensive contact with Chinese research institutions, colleges and universities, local institutions of social sciences, and central and local departments responsible for rural development. It has also established national-condition survey bases in Huzhou of Zhejiang Province and Yantai of Shandong Province.

RDI has fostered close academic ties with many overseas universities and institutions, including the Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences, National Institute of Agricultural Economics of Italy, Lincoln University of New Zealand, Korea Rural Economic Institute, Norinchukin Research Institute of Japan, the Japanese Society for Co-operative Studies and O.P. Jindal Global University in India. They carry out academic visits and information exchanges frequently and co-sponsor academic meetings and activities.

VI. Contact Information

Address: Floor 13, No.5, Jianguomenei Dajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Postal code: 100732

General Office: 010-85195646

E-mail: office-rdi@cass.org.cn

Research Coordination Division: 010-85195645

Department of Rural Development of CASS Graduate School: 010-85196477

Fax: 010-65137559

Website: http://rdi.cssn.cn

 

 

 

Subway station:

Exit A of Jianguomen Station on Subway Line 1 or Line 2

Bus stops:

Beijing Railway Station East (east-west): 1, 52, 99,120, N1, N24

Beijing Railway Station East (west-east): 99, 120, 126, 140, 637, S2

Beijing Railway Station Front (south-north): 9, 24, 126; 619, 673, 674, 804, S2, N10 Outer, N28

Beijing Railway Station North (north-south): 24, 674, N28

Airport shuttle bus stops:

International Hotel: Beijing Railway Station route, Xidan night route

Beijing Railway Station: Beijing Railway Station route, Beijing Railway Station special route of Nanyuan Airport shuttle bus

Railway:

Beijing Railway Station: 1 kilometer away from the entrance of Beijing Railway Station