Wing Thye Woo is Research Professor at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur where he is also the Vice-President for Asia at UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and Distinguished Professor Emeritus University of California Davis. He has academic appointments at Fudan University in Shanghai, Penang Institute in George Town, and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. He is an expert on the East Asian economies, particularly, China, Indonesia and Malaysia. His current research focuses on designing efficient, equitable pathways to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals with projects on Green Finance, Middle Income Trap, Decarbonisation and Global Economic Architecture for the Multi-Polar World.
Affiliations
- Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of California Davis
- National Distinguished Expert by the Thousand Talents Program (Qian Ren Jihua) of China, 2016- present
- Convener of the Asian Economic Panel (AEP), and Editor-in Chief of the AEP journal, Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, 2011- present
- Member of the Board of Directors, Sunway University, 2014- present
- Adjunct (Te Bing) Professor, School of Economics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 2012- present
- Adjunct Research Fellow, Institute of Population and Labor Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 2016- present
- Distinguished Fellow, Penang Institute, George Town, Malaysia, 2014- present
Current Projects
Green Finance, Middle Income Trap, Decarbonisation and Global Economic Architecture for the Multi-Polar World.
Selected Publications
- Goh Chun Sheng, Amanda Ahl and Wing Thye Woo, ‘Sustainable Transformation of Land-Based Economic Development in the Era of Digital Revolution’. Trends in Biotechnology 17 (2021): 192-200.
- Derek Kok and Wing Thye Woo, The Wide Range of National Reactions to the Common COVID-19 Shock: Observations on Causes and Effects, Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, 18:4, 379-383, DOI: 10.1080/14765284.2020.1855928.
- Wing Thye Woo, Koh Hock Lye and Teh Su Yean, ‘Achieving excellence in sustainable development goals in Sunway University Malaysia’, In Walter Leal Filho et al. (Eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development: Supporting the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, World Sustainability Series. (Switzerland AG: Springer Nature, 2020).
- Liu, Tao; Xiaosong Wang; & Wing Thye Woo. (2019). “The Road to Currency Internationalization: Global Perspectives and Chinese Experience,”. Emerging Markets Review, Vol. 28 Issue 1, pp. 73-101.
- Liu, Tao; Dong Lu; & Wing Thye Woo. (2019).”Trade, Finance and International Currency,”. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Volume 164, pp. 374-413.
- Wing Thye Woo. (2019). “An Introduction to the First Principles for Macro-Stability and Sustainable Growth in China’s New Normal”. China Economic Review, Vol. 57.
- Wing Thye Woo. (2019). “China’s Soft Budget Constraint on the Demand-Side Undermines Its Supply-Side Structural Reforms,” China Economic Review, Vol. 57.
- Jeffrey D. Sachs; Wing Thye Woo; Naoyuki Yoshino; & Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary. (2019). “Importance of Green Finance for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Energy Security”. Handbook of Green Finance: Energy Security and Sustainable Development, Tokyo: Springer.
- DL Swenson; & Wing Thye Woo. (2019). “Understanding the US-China Trade War”, Asian Economic Papers, Vol. 18 No. 3, Fall 2019.
- “JCI-WP-2018-03: ASEAN at 50: Achievements in Regional Integration and the Agenda for Future Regional Economic-Financial Architecture”, JCI-JSC Working Paper.
- “JCI-WP-2018-02: Explaining Malaysia’s Past Economic Growth and Future Prospects”, JCI-JSC Working Paper.
- Wing Thye Woo. (2018). “Understanding the Major Threats to China’s Economic Growth” in Hui-Chiao Huang and Huizhong Zhou (editors), The Impacts of China’s Rise on the Pacific and the World, 52nd Werner Sichel Lecture Series 2015-2016, W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
- Wing Thye Woo. (2018). “A U.S. Perspective on China’s External Economic Disputes in the Past 40 Years and in the Coming 40 Years,” in Ross Garnaut, Ligang Song and Cai Fang (editors), China’s 40 Years of Reform and Development: 1978–2018, Australian National University Press.
- Wing Thye Woo. “A Realistic Architecture for the Asian Economic Union: Viable Forms of Macroeconomic and Trade Cooperation,” Chapter 10 in Wing Thye Woo, Masahiro Kawai, Jong-Wha Lee, and Jeffrey D. Sachs (editors), A New International Monetary System for a Multi-Polar World, MIT Press, forthcoming
- Liu, Tao; & Wing Thye Woo. (2018). “Understanding the U.S.-China Trade War”. China Economic Journal, 11(3: Special Issue), 319–340.
- Wing Thye Woo. (2018). “Decentralization of Decision-Making Is Key to Better and Fairer Economic Outcomes in Malaysia”. The Round Table, 107(6), 815–816.
- Teh, Su Yean; Koh, Hock Lye; Lee, Elizabeth; Wing Thye Woo; & Tan, Wai Kiat. (2017). “Faecal Coliform Simulation on Sewage Discharge for an Environmentally Sustainable Township in Medini Iskandar Johor Malaysia”. AIP Conference Proceedings, 1905, 040028.
- Fu, Xiaolan; Wing Thye Woo; & Hou, Jun. (2016). “Technological Innovation Policy in China: The Lessons, and the Necessary Changes Ahead”. Economic Change and Restructuring, 49(2-3), 139–157.
- Li, Shiyu; Kotlikoff, Laurence J.; Lin, Shuanglin; Wing Thye Woo; & Jiang, Yunyun. (2016). “How much will China save? Projecting China’s national savings through 2040”. Asian Economic Journal, 30(3), 255–274.
- Yuyan Tan; Yiping Huang; & Wing Thye Woo. (2016). “Zombie Firms and the Crowding-Out of Private Investment in China”, Asian Economic Paper, Volume 15, Issue 3, Fall 2016 p.32-55.
Selected Talks and Presentations
- 14 Nov 2018: “One Belt One Road: Spheres of Influence or Spheres of Connectivity” invited keynote lecture, 44th Convention of the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Associations (IFAWPCA), Strategic Alliance with Innovation & Human Capital, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia
- 12 Nov 2018: “Common Key Lessons from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and the 2008 Global Financial Crisis” conference on A Decade after the Global Financial Crisis, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
- 1 Oct 2018: “Defusing the US-China Trade War” at East Asia Studies Distinguished Forum US-China Trade War: Global Prosperity and Cooperation Under Threat, DeCarli Room, Memorial Student Union, University of California, Davis
- 16 Sept 2018: “A New Economy for a New Malaysia” Malaysiaku Celebrations 2018 Forum, Key Economic and Political Reforms for Malaysia Baharu
- 8 Aug 2018: “External Trade and Investment in China’s Economic Development and Global Role” Shanghai Academy Forum, Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-Up, Shanghai University
- 23 June 2018: “Defusing the US-China Trade War,” invited keynote lecture, 30th Anniversary of Chinese Economic Association UK-Europe, conference, China’s Path to a New Era, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- 27 April 2018: “Malaysia’s Economy 60 Years After Merdeka” Yong Peng, Malaysia
- 27 April 2018: “Raising Income in Malaysia Faster and Fairer” Kluang, Malaysia
- 26 April 2018: “Stabilizing the Tumultuous New International Normal: The Options” Joint Malaysia Institute of Malaysia – China Institute for International Strategic Studies conference Belt and Road Initiative and Promoting Regional Security, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- 24 April 2018: “Can Malaysia beat Singapore in Economic Governance” Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- 29 March 2018: “Chinese Corporate Debt and Credit Misallocation” Asian Economic Panel conference, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, Seoul, South Korea
- 17 Feb 2018: “Geopolitical Ramifications of China’s Belt and Road Initiative” Aspen Institute, Colorado
- 26 Jan 2018: “Regulatory Issues on Crypto-Currencies” Shadow Finance Committee seminar, Digital Currencies, National Institute of Development Administration, Bangkok, Thailand
JCI Events
As domestic and external demand recover, the Malaysian economy is projected to grow by 5.8% in 2022. However, this projected growth may be dampened by the rise of new COVID-19 variants, supply disruptions, and limited fiscal space. Rising vulnerabilities both at household and firm levels pose concerns to the country’s recovery path. Uncertainties abound for the Malaysian economy in 2022.
As domestic and external demand recover, the Malaysian economy is projected to grow by 5.8% in 2022. However, this projected growth may be dampened by the rise of new COVID-19 variants, supply disruptions, and limited fiscal space. Rising vulnerabilities both at household and firm levels pose concerns to the country's recovery path. Uncertainties abound for the Malaysian economy in 2022. ASLI of Sunway University brings to you a two-part panel discussion for us to understand how to navigate the Malaysian economy in these trying times
Will the first ever Malaysian "Memorandum of Understanding for Transformation and Political Stability" work to transform and professionalise its Parliament?
Multimedia
Radio: Diving into Sustainable Solutions at the National Solutions Forum 2022
Professor Woo Wing Thye discusses the upcoming National Solutions Forum (NSF) as a showcase for the most impactful solutions to Malaysia's SDG-related challenges.
Video: Prosperity tax – will the rich pay or run away?
Dr Woo Wing Thye helps us to understand who will benefit from the disaster relief measures and how Budget 2022 could do better with a little tweaking.
Video: Economist: Why invest in aerospace when children are suffering from stunted growth?
KiniTV speaks to economist Dr Woo Wing Thye to better understand how the budget can benefit SMEs and some of the opportunities missed by the government in helping this sector to recover.
Video: Sino-US dollar talks are of great significance [Chinese]
Prof Woo Wing Thye, JCI President, is interviewed by Phoenix TV on his views on the recent Sino-US trade and currency negotiations.
Video: Biden’s Election Victory will be Beneficial to America’s Economic Recovery
Prof Woo Wing Thye, JCI President, is interviewed by Pheonix TV on his views on the recent US Presidential Elections 2020 and what it means for USA and Asia.
Video: Malaysian economist predicts the local economy will recover within a year
Prof Woo Wing Thye is interviewed by Pheonix TV on his views on Malaysia's economic recovery in a post-COVID scenario.
News & Op/Eds
Viewing the 12th Malaysia Plan through the lens of decarbonisation
Leong, Platts and Woo comment on energy, ports, soil fertility, fertiliser and mindset.
Malaysia’s budget today could be largest in its history
Prof. Woo Wing Thye comments on the upcoming 2021 Malaysian budget and hopes to see a direct infusion of purchasing power through government spending.
Economist warns of disaster from forcing firms to pay full wages
JCI President Prof. Woo calls for “emergency room economics” to be implemented while the MCO is in force, with aid given to those earning low incomes.
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