中国经济学的探索:一个历史考察

The Exploration of Chinese Economics:A Historical Study

中国经济学探索延续百年,历经近代在传播与转型中孕育、上世纪90年代在选择与实践中争鸣、党的十八大以来在积累与创新中厘清这三次学术讨论高潮。本文对百年来中国经济学概念的提出过程、表述方式、具体界定、理论逻辑及特征演变等进行了全面回顾,对其间涌现的各种提法加以梳理统计,揭示了概念的演变趋势与基本要素,并给出关于中国经济学概念界定的标准与建议。研究发现:(1)中国经济学概念界定发展于马克思主义经济学中国化、西方经济学中国化、中国传统经济思想现代化和中国经济改革发展实践理论化这四条线索的相互交织;(2)学界对经济学二元学科特质的认知虽持续存在差异,但对中国经济学研究目的、主体、对象和方法等特有属性的共识逐步加强,促使其概念轮廓不断清晰,并在新时代以中国特色社会主义政治经济学为落脚点;(3)中国经济学应至少满足以下标准:中国经济学人以马克思主义为指导,批判吸收各种已有经济思想并实现创新,致力揭示中国经济规律,解释中国经济问题,指导中国经济发展,并寻求更具一般性和广泛解释力的理论提炼,最终形成一套内在逻辑自洽的理论体系。

As a centennial academic exploration,the construction of Chinese economics offers important insights into the transition from traditional to modern Chinese economic thought.One of the core issues with Chinese economics is its definition,but yet no consensus has been reached on this issue.This paper systematically summarizes the research conducted on this topic in the last century.It contributes to clarifying theoretical differences within this research and accelerating the establishment of Chinese economics within a united scope.This article studies three key chronological periods of Chinese economics:(1)the 1920s to the 1940s,(2)the mid-/late 1990s to the early 21st century,and(3)the period since the 18th Communist Party of China(CPC)National Congress.It also embeds the construction of Chinese economics into the theoretical framework of the historical transformation of Chinese economic thought.This theoretical framework contains four areas:the sinicization of Marxist economics,the sinicization of Western economics,the modernization of traditional Chinese economic thought,and the theorization of practical experience of China's economic transformation and development.This article comprehensively reviews the primary literatures on the definition of Chinese economics,including its formulation,expressions,specific definitions,theories and logics,and the evolution of its features.The joint effects of the theoretical threads depict a general evolution of the definition of Chinese economics,from its emergence fostered by dissemination and transformation,to contention through choices and practice,then explication in the processes of accumulation and innovation.China's remarkable early modern transformation from a closed agricultural economy to an open industrial economy inspires scholars from different theoretical backgrounds to construct Chinese economics.As most Chinese scholars have agreed,Chinese economics is to critically assimilate various theories from a Chinese perspective and build an independent system to accelerate China's economic reform and help it escape national crisis.Since the 1990s,China's economic reforms,together with the paradigm shift in Chinese economic studies,have created two challenges:(1)how to implement socialism with Chinese characteristics in the context of China's reform and opening up,and(2)how to theorize the relationship between different foreign economic theories,and between foreign theories and Chinese economic thought.The exploration of a definition for Chinese economics reflects both practical and theoretical challenges.Chinese economics took on a new meaning after the 18th CPC National Congress,particularly with the global economy changing drastically and China entering a“new era”.Since the Congress,Chinese economics has been based on practical accumulation.It creates and innovates a system of theories that meet China's economic development needs.It has a strong academic presence and self-confidence in the international community.Hence,a socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics offers a foothold for further economic exploration.The exploration of Chinese economics over the last century aligns with the developmental needs of China's rise and revival,and it exhibits both logical rationality and historical necessity.Debate regarding the definition of Chinese economics persists because economics is binary.Nevertheless,the academic community has gradually strengthened its consensus on areas within Chinese economics,such as its purposes,subjects,objects,and methods.A clearer outline of a definition emerges from this trend.The article concludes that Chinese economics is difficult to define because it is still developing.However,economists should meet the following criteria when determining a definition.It should be guided by Marxism and a critical and innovative understanding of various existing economic thought.It should be committed to revealing the objective laws of China's economic operation.It should explain China's economic issues.It should guide China's economic development.And it should help economists develop a theoretical system with a consistent inherent logic when pursuing more generalized theories with more extensive explanatory power.