Name: Matthew Williams
Major: International Economics: Chinese Concentration
Research Location: Beijing, Xi'an, Cheng du
Matthew spent two weeks studying economics in western China, including the Shanxi and Sichuan provinces. The provinces' blend of rural and urban allowed his group to analyze how China's trickle-down economic policies work in collaboration with rural poverty alleviation projects. His group also attended lectures at Peking University on the topics of rural development and economics.
Matthew says, "This experience allowed me to get out of my bubble of trying to understand China only through Western media. The knowledge and experience I gained from this trip has made me even more interested in learning about China and will give me unique perspectives on topics discussed in my classes which I don't think many of my peers have been able to gain due to not being able to visit China."