Corporations are the core of modern economies, and China's leading corporations are both new and structured in ways that contrast in striking ways with those elsewhere in the world. Analyzing the history of China's leading corporations is a superb way of understanding the transformation of the country's economy over the past OSPBEIJ 30 years and the inner workings of the Chinese model of development. This seminar will focus on the formation, development, and global expansion of business activities by large Chinese corporations, something that has accelerated over the past two decades. Each student will complete two case histories of a major Chinese corporation. One will be in the state sector, a legacy firm from the socialist era, and the second will be a private firm, founded by entrepreneurs during the era of market reform. Students will make two classroom presentations of their final case histories, one on each of the firms, and submit a final paper that identifies and analyzes key differences between the two selected companies.
3-4 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Corporations are the core of modern economies, and China's leading corporations are both new and structured in ways that contrast in striking ways with those elsewhere in the world. Analyzing the history of China's leading corporations is a superb way of understanding the transformation of the country's economy over the past 30 years and the inner workings of the Chinese model of development. This seminar will focus on the formation, development, and global expansion of business activities by large Chinese corporations, something that has accelerated over the past two decades. Each student will complete two case histories of a major Chinese corporation. One will be in the state sector, a legacy firm from the socialist era, and the second will be a private firm, founded by entrepreneurs during the era of market reform. Students will make two classroom presentations of their final case histories, one on each of the firms, and submit a final paper that identifies and analyzes key differences between the two selected companies.
Offered in Spring 2026 at Stanford University.