ThoughtGallery.org > U.S.-China Dialogue: Finding Common Ground Fighting Poverty and Populism–In China, the U.S., and the World

U.S.-China Dialogue: Finding Common Ground Fighting Poverty and Populism–In China, the U.S., and the World

The number of people living in extreme poverty around the world has declined, but income disparities are fueling a rising wave of populism. Both China and the United States are grappling with enormous income gaps. How will China bring prosperity to its rural citizens—and provide services to the migrant laborers who have moved by the millions into its cities? How will the United States bring poverty relief to its urban underclass and help rural citizens who have been left behind? Can both countries learn from each other’s experience? Professor Li Xiaoyun, a leading thinker on poverty issues in China, will join Dr. Irwin Farfinkel, Interim Dean of the Columbia School of Social Work, to discuss strategies in fighting poverty in their own countries, and elsewhere in the world.

Dr. Li Xiaoyun is Dean of China Institute for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (CISSICA) and distinguished Professor in Development Studies. He is Chair of the Network of Southern Think Tanks (NeST), also Chair of China International Development Research Network. He is an advisor to the Chinese Agriculture Economics Society, the State Council for Poverty Reduction, the All Women’s Federation in China, One in Africa, ESRC/DFID in UK, and Rising Power Initiative IDS/DFID.

Li’s work covers development intervention, gender and development, poverty reduction, climate change, international development aid, China’s foreign aid, China and Africa, Africa’s agricultural development. He is a recipient of China Poverty Reduction Award, Youchange Poverty Research Award, and China’s Social Responsibility Award 2016. He received the China Poverty Reduction Award 2017. He has been a senior expert for Chinese government, the World Bank, ADB, UN, and EU, GIZ, DFID and other bilateral agencies as well as international NGOs working in China, Africa, Asia and Latin America. He was visiting Professor at LSE and Oslo University and visiting Fellow at Germany Institute for Development.

Dr. Irwin Garfinkel is Interim Dean of the Columbia School of Social Work, the Mitchell I. Ginsberg Professor of Contemporary Urban Problems, and co-founding director of the Columbia Population Research Center (CPRC). Of the 37 population research centers funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), CPRC is the only one to have been founded within a school of social work. Its signature focus is children, youth, and families. Garfinkel is also co-founding director of the Center on Poverty and Social Policy (2014-present). Previously, Dr. Garfinkel served as the director of the Institute for Research on Poverty from 1975-1980, and the School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin from 1982-1984. From 1980-1990, he was the principal investigator of the Wisconsin Child Support Study. His research on child support and welfare influenced legislation in Wisconsin, other American states, the U.S. Congress, Great Britain, Australia, and Sweden.

Garfinkel’s book Wealth and Welfare States: Is America Laggard or Leader? and paper Welfare State Myths and Measurement challenge widespread half-truths, such as the idea that the American welfare state is small and has always been a laggard, and that the welfare state undermines productivity.

Garfinkel holds a BA in history from the University of Pittsburgh, an MA in Social Work from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Social Work and Economics from the University of Michigan.











When: Thu., Nov. 29, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: China Institute
100 Washington St.
212-744-8181
Price: $10
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The number of people living in extreme poverty around the world has declined, but income disparities are fueling a rising wave of populism. Both China and the United States are grappling with enormous income gaps. How will China bring prosperity to its rural citizens—and provide services to the migrant laborers who have moved by the millions into its cities? How will the United States bring poverty relief to its urban underclass and help rural citizens who have been left behind? Can both countries learn from each other’s experience? Professor Li Xiaoyun, a leading thinker on poverty issues in China, will join Dr. Irwin Farfinkel, Interim Dean of the Columbia School of Social Work, to discuss strategies in fighting poverty in their own countries, and elsewhere in the world.

Dr. Li Xiaoyun is Dean of China Institute for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (CISSICA) and distinguished Professor in Development Studies. He is Chair of the Network of Southern Think Tanks (NeST), also Chair of China International Development Research Network. He is an advisor to the Chinese Agriculture Economics Society, the State Council for Poverty Reduction, the All Women’s Federation in China, One in Africa, ESRC/DFID in UK, and Rising Power Initiative IDS/DFID.

Li’s work covers development intervention, gender and development, poverty reduction, climate change, international development aid, China’s foreign aid, China and Africa, Africa’s agricultural development. He is a recipient of China Poverty Reduction Award, Youchange Poverty Research Award, and China’s Social Responsibility Award 2016. He received the China Poverty Reduction Award 2017. He has been a senior expert for Chinese government, the World Bank, ADB, UN, and EU, GIZ, DFID and other bilateral agencies as well as international NGOs working in China, Africa, Asia and Latin America. He was visiting Professor at LSE and Oslo University and visiting Fellow at Germany Institute for Development.

Dr. Irwin Garfinkel is Interim Dean of the Columbia School of Social Work, the Mitchell I. Ginsberg Professor of Contemporary Urban Problems, and co-founding director of the Columbia Population Research Center (CPRC). Of the 37 population research centers funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), CPRC is the only one to have been founded within a school of social work. Its signature focus is children, youth, and families. Garfinkel is also co-founding director of the Center on Poverty and Social Policy (2014-present). Previously, Dr. Garfinkel served as the director of the Institute for Research on Poverty from 1975-1980, and the School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin from 1982-1984. From 1980-1990, he was the principal investigator of the Wisconsin Child Support Study. His research on child support and welfare influenced legislation in Wisconsin, other American states, the U.S. Congress, Great Britain, Australia, and Sweden.

Garfinkel’s book Wealth and Welfare States: Is America Laggard or Leader? and paper Welfare State Myths and Measurement challenge widespread half-truths, such as the idea that the American welfare state is small and has always been a laggard, and that the welfare state undermines productivity.

Garfinkel holds a BA in history from the University of Pittsburgh, an MA in Social Work from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Social Work and Economics from the University of Michigan.

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