The institute helps coordinate the efforts of scholars (faculty and students) across campus and supports research to understand economic growth in China (past, present and future) and its impact on the world economy. Focus areas include rural development, firm activities and industrial dynamics, markets and regulation, financial and real estate markets, international trade, and environmental and energy challenges. Some of current research projects aim to understand the impacts of industrial policies in China, the dynamics of firm productivity and location choices, the causes, consequences, and policy choices regarding air pollution, the transportation policies and outcomes, electricity sector restructuring, etc.