China (Shanghai) and Taiwan (Taipei)

The Economics Study Abroad will bring students to visit Shanghai and Taipei, cities in two of the most important Chinese economies - China and Taiwan. The main objective of this course is to help student understand how geographic, cultural, political, economic, historical and international factors help form and shape business practices and styles in these Chinese economies. Students will also gain knowledge of the similarities and differences between Taiwan and China, as well as the critical role pubic policies had in each economy’s successful development over the past decades. We arranged visits to businesses selected from leading industries in each economy, including electronic and laptop manufacturing, stock exchange, and global research centers and important infrastructure in each economy,. Culture visits and sightseeing include the Yu-Yuan Garden, the Qibao Ancient Town, and the Bund in Shanghai, Shih-Lin night market, Taipei International Financial Center 101 (currently the tallest building in the world), and the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Students will also experience versatile Chinese cuisine, shopping, and lively city night-life.

The Economic Background of the Study Abroad Destinations: The Republic of China, established in 1911 following the overthrown of Qing (Manchu) dynasty, went through a civil war in 1949 that split the country into two political regimes – China (People’s Republic of China, or PRC) and Taiwan (Republic of China, or ROC). In the three decades that followed, China went through its worst years of economic reform. The unsuccessful “Culture Revolution” and “Great Leap Forward” misallocated resources and created economic stagnation, keeping China a lowly-developed country. During the same period, Taiwan (Republic of China) experienced transition toward full democracy and an astonishingly rapid economic growth that surprised the world. The high growth rate and industrialization elevated the Taiwanese economy to join the rank of Hong-Kong, Singapore, and South Korea, collectively known as Asia’s Four Little Dragon.

Near the end of the 20th century, China started to push for a socialist market reform and open up to the outside world. In the next two decades, China successfully transformed its economy by attracting enormous foreign investment with its low wage rate and massive labor force, and becoming the world’s factory. The expanding economy in China created both opportunities and challenges to the neighboring Taiwan. On the one hand, the low wage rates in China allow Taiwan manufactures in China to lower production cost. Sharing the common language, culture background, and short distance across the Taiwan strait not only facilitate the process but also make the China market even more accessible to Taiwan businesses than to other foreign competitors. One the other hand, worry arises that the migration of manufacturers and outflow of investment to Mainland China may throw Taiwan’s domestic economy into recession. And Taiwan’s increasing dependence on China’s input and output markets posed a potential threat to the national security and is regarded as politically undesirable for Taiwan.

It is within this context that we develop a study abroad trip to Taiwan and China.

ECO 2013 OR ECO 2023

Economics & International Business

3 Credit Hours during summer 2008 term

$2,300 (plus the cost of tuition)
Actual price is $3,300. Accepted students will receive a Transformational Learning Opportunity (TLO) scholarships awarded by the President’s Office to lower the cost to $2,300. Only undergraduate degree-seeking students are eligible for the TLO scholarship. Participation by non-degree seeking students will be considered on a case by case basis. Although, they will be require to pay the full program fee of $3,300 (plus the cost of tuition).

$300 due by December 1
$1,500 due by January 15
$1,500  $500 due by February 15

Dr. Albert Loh
cloh@unf.edu
(904) 620-1227