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Resonating with the Times, Advancing with Reform: A Review of Theoretical Research Marking the 30th Anniversary of Economic Affairs
Yang Jun;Yao Yongmei;Wei Chu;The year 2026 ushers in both the inaugural year of the 15 th Five-Year Plan and the 30 th anniversary of the journal Economic Affairs. Over the past three decades, the journal has closely aligned itself with the pulse of reform and the evolution of socialist market economy theory with Chinese characteristics. This paper systematically reviews the theoretical trajectory and practical interactions, using articles published in Economic Affairs from 1996 to 2026 as the analytical sample, and examines four distinct historical stages. These stages are as follows:(1) Institutional Establishment(1992–2002)—focusing on “breaking new ground.” Although the journal began publishing in 1996, this stage highlights the broader transition toward a standardized socialist market economy, as research on state-owned enterprise reform, property rights systems, and market system development fortified the institutional foundations for orderly market operations.(2) Scientific Development(2003–2012)—shifting toward “balanced coordination.” Guided by the Scientific Outlook on Development, scholars conducted studies on scientific development theory, new rural construction, indigenous innovation, and green growth, advancing coordinated progress across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.(3) High-Quality Development(2013–2024)—emphasizing “upgrading.” Researchers closely aligned their work with supply-side structural reform, centering on high-quality development, the new development paradigm, and the digital economy, facilitating the transition from factor-driven to innovation-driven growth.(4) Modernization Construction(2025–present)—highlighting “common prosperity.” Rooted in the Chinese path to modernization, contemporary scholars examine common prosperity, carbon neutrality, the integration of the digital and real economies, and “investment in people,” thus engaging with the imperative to align high-quality development with shared prosperity. The findings show that the journal's publications not only chronicle the historical evolution of China's economic theory but also deliver timely, policy-relevant insights that meet the nation's developmental needs. In doing so, the journal exemplifies the think-tank function of a participating party and contributes distinctively to the construction of an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
Strategic Considerations for the Development of Future Industries in China
Pan Jiaofeng;Wang Xiaoming;Shen Hua;Global technological innovation has entered into monetization phase, frontier technologies breaking through gradually moving towards value creation stage, presenting great development opportunities for future industries. The development of future industries in China requires an accurate understanding of global technological and industrial competitive dynamics, leveraging the advantages of a comprehensive industrial system, innovation elements, large market demand, and extensive application scenarios, to accelerate the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, cultivate and incubate future industries, and seize strategic positions. Recommendations: Accelerate technological driven future industries, strategically plan for emerging technologies, and establish regional industrial technology innovation systems tailored to local conditions; strengthen the key factor systems, remove barriers to cross-domain and cross-border flows, and consolidate the market foundation for future industries; stimulate the vitality of various innovative entities, explore new forms of property relations and regulatory models, and establish new production relations suited to future industries.
Evolutionary Logic of Future Industries and Insights from Major Economies
Liu Quanhong;Zhang Haijun;This study investigates future industries as a strategic imperative for China to achieve a strategic advantage in science and technology amid the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. Distinct from conventional industrial sectors, future industries occupy the critical interface connecting technological innovation to industrial development; their evolution stems from the synergistic interplay of technological breakthroughs, demand creation, and factor inputs, with strategic direction selection, resource assurance, seamless innovation-commercialization linkage, and dominance competition constituting key development priorities. Through comparative analysis of major economies—including the United States, European Union, and Japan—this research examines systematic advancement frameworks characterized by unconventional resource allocation, integrated industrialization ecosystems, and supply chain restructuring initiatives. The findings conclude that China should implement targeted policies across four dimensions: refining strategic frameworks, constructing comprehensive factor support systems, removing industrialization bottlenecks, and enhancing rule-setting influence, thereby accelerating high-quality development of future industries.
Exploring the Development Dynamics of Future Industries and Pathways for Cultivating New Quality Productive Forces
Liu Tengfei;Han Ling;Liu Naijia;Forward-looking deployment of future industries represents the core essence of developing new quality productive forces and serves as a critical lever for promoting the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation. This strategic initiative holds significant value for constructing modern industrial systems and securing strategic advantages in global industrial competition. Against the backdrop of accelerating global technological revolution and industrial transformation, this study systematically elaborates the strategic significance and contemporary value of future industry development, profoundly analyzes the core characteristics and intrinsic development patterns that distinguish future industries from traditional sectors and general emerging industries, and examines China's unique advantages and practical challenges in cultivating future industries. Building upon this analysis, the paper proposes a systematic implementation pathway encompassing basic research, scenario-driven development, integrated innovation, regional spatial planning, technology commercialization, and governance optimization. This research aims to provide theoretical reference and practical guidance for the gradient cultivation of future industries during China's 15th Five-Year Plan period, thereby facilitating the development channel from technological strength to industrial strength, economic strength, and national strength.
Toward a Context-Driven Agile Governance Framework for Emerging Future Industries
Yin Ximing;The world is witnessing an unprecedented surge in technological innovation. Future industries are accelerating their shift from laboratory research to commercialization, emerging as a pivotal force reshaping the global economic landscape. Recognizing the broad scope of future industries, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has emphasized the need to establish a sound governance system that balances development and security. This system should ensure both regulatory flexibility and effective oversight. However, the distinctive characteristics of future industries—such as their forward-looking orientation, strategic significance, disruptive potential, cross-sectoral integration, and high uncertainty—make traditional hierarchical, sectorspecific, and ex-ante approval-based governance models increasingly inadequate. Drawing upon the contemporary features of future industries, this study proposes a Context-driven agile governance framework tailored for future industrial development. The paper elaborates on the theoretical connotations, fundamental principles, institutional instruments, and actor transformations that underpin agile governance. It also outlines pathways for refining the agile governance architecture through four interconnected dimensions: regulatory sandboxes, multi-stakeholder co-governance, digital intelligence empowerment, and Context-driven mechanisms. This research offers theoretical foundations and policy insights to promote the high-quality development of China's future industries and secure global competitiveness.
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