Heiwai TANG
Prof. Heiwai TANG
經濟學
Associate Dean (External Relations)
Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics (馮國經馮國綸基金教授 (經濟學))
Director, Asia Global Institute
Director, APEC Study Center
Associate Director, Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy

3917 0029
3917 4388

MB 335/ KK 920

Academic & Professional Qualification
  • PhD: MIT
  • Bachelor: UCLA
Biography

Heiwai Tang is Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics, Director of the Asia Global Institute and HKU APEC Study Center, as well as the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Prior to joining HKU, he was tenured Associate Professor of International Economics at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University. He is also affiliated with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (U.S.), the Center of Economic Studies and Ifo Institute (CESIfo, Germany), the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (Germany) and the Globalization and Economic Policy Center (U.K.) as a research fellow. He has been a consultant to the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the United Nations, and the Asian Development Bank; and held visiting positions at the IMF, Stanford, MIT, Harvard. He is currently an associate editor of the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Comparative Economics and the China Economic Review. Since 2021, he has served on a number of public bodies, including the Currency Board Sub-Committee of the HKMA’s Exchange Fund Advisory Committee and the Minimum Wage Commission in Hong Kong.

Heiwai holds a Ph.D. in economics from MIT and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from UCLA. His research interests span a wide range of theoretical and empirical topics in international trade, with a specific focus on production networks, global value chains, and China. His research has been published in leading journals in economics, including American Economic Review and Journal of International Economics. His research and opinions have been covered by BBC, Financial Times, New York Times, Al Jazeera, Foreign Policy, South China Morning Post, and various think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Teaching

Columbia-LBS-HKU EMBA: The New World Order

HKU-PKU DBA: Frontiers in Economics Research

Fudan-HKU IMBA: The New World Order

HKU: Undergraduate Common Core – China in the Global Economy; MBA – Global Economy; Master of Economics – Economic Policy

Research Interest

International Trade, Global Value Chains, Development Economics

Selected Publications
  • “Trade Networks and Firm Value: Evidence from the US-China Trade War,” Journal of International Economics, forthcoming. (with Yi Huang, Chen Lin, and Sibo Liu)
  • “Currency Carry Trade by Trucks: The Curious Case of China’s Massive Imports from Itself”, Review of Finance, 27(2), March 2023, pp. 469–493. (with Xuepeng Liu, Zhi Wang, and Shang-Jin Wei)
  • “Do Multinationals Transfer Culture? Evidence on Female Employment in China”, Journal of International Economics, 133, Nov 2021, 103518. (with Yifan Zhang)
  • “Domestic Segment of Global Value Chains in China under State Capitalism”, Journal of Comparative Economics, 48(4), Dec 2020, pp. 797-821. (with Fei Wang and Zhi Wang)
  • “Why is China Investing in Africa? Evidence from the Firm Level”, World Bank Economic Review, 32(3), Oct 2018, pp. 610-632. (with Wenjie Chen and David Dollar)
  • “Are Foreign Firms Favored in China? Firm-level Evidence on the Collection of Value-Added Tax”, Journal of International Business Policy, 1(2), Inaugural Issue, Jun 2018, pp. 71-91. (with Yasheng Huang)
  • “Domestic Value Added in Exports: Theory and Firm Evidence from China”, American Economic Review, 106(6), Jun 2016, pp. 1402-1436. (with Hiau Looi Kee)
  • “Learning to Export from Neighbors”, Journal of International Economics, 94(1), Sep 2014, pp. 67-84. (with Ana Fernandes)
  • “Factor Intensity, Product Switching, and Productivity: Evidence from Chinese Exporters”, Journal of International Economics, 92(2), Mar 2014, pp. 349-362. (with Yue Ma and Yifan Zhang)
  • “International Politics and Import Diversification”, Journal of Law and Economics, 56(4), Nov 2013, pp. 1091-1121. (with Sergey Mityakov and Kevin Tsui)
  • “Determinants of Vertical Integration in Export Processing: Theory and Evidence from China”, Journal of Development Economics, 99(2), Nov 2012, pp. 396-414. (with Ana Fernandes)
  • “Labor Market Institutions, Firm-specific Skills, and Trade Patterns”, Journal of International Economics, 87(2), Jul 2012, pp. 337-351.
Awards and Honours
  • APEC Study Center Financial Support from the HKSAR Government, PI, HKD 2,500,000, 2022-2027
  • HKU Knowledge Exchange Grant, PI, HKD 497,000, 2023
  • Hong Kong RGC Grant, Co-PI, HKD 418,975, 2022-2024
  • Committee of 100 Next Generation Leader, 2018
  • Richard Paul Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy Grant, Columbia University, Co-PI, USD 14,500.
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada Insight Grant, Co-Investigator, CAD 78,736
  • Student-Elected Best Professor of the Master of International Econ and Finance Program, JHU SAIS, 2016-2017
  • Alcoa Foundation Grant, Co-PI, USD 500,000, 2016-2019
  • Hong Kong RGC Grant, Co-PI, HKD 364,378, 2017-2019
  • Outstanding Referee Journal of International Economics, 2014-2017.
  • Hong Kong RGC Grant, Co-PI, HKD 336,462, 2011-2013
  • The Nuffield Foundation Social Science Grant, SGS/36581, Co-PI, £12,000, 2009-2011
  • MIT Presidential Fellowship, 2002-2003
Service to the University/Community
  • Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal of the HKSAR government, member, 2023 –
  • Panel of Arbitrators of the Labour Relations Ordinance, HKSAR, member, 2023 –
  • Insurance Authority in Hong Kong SAR, Member of the Industry Advisory Committee, 2022 –
  • Telecommunications Appeal Board of the HKSAR Government, Member, 2022 –
  • Currency Board Sub-Committee of the HKMA Exchange Fund Advisory Committee, Member, 2021-
  • Minimum Wage Commission in Hong Kong SAR, Member, 2021 –
  • Pacific Economic Review, Managing Editor, 2022 –
  • Journal of International Economics, Associate Editor, 2019 – 2022
  • China Economic Review, Associate Editor, 2018 –
  • Journal of Comparative Economics, Associate Editor, 2017 – 2023
  • China Economics Summer Institute, Academic Committee Member, 2017 –
  • International Finance Corporation (IFC), Consultant, 2017 –
  • United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Consultant, 2016 – 2017
  • Asian Development Bank, Consultant, 2016 – 2017
  • IMF, Research Department, Visiting Scholar, 2015 – 2016
  • World Bank, Consultant, 2013 – 2017
Recent Publications
全球化逆轉下的雁行模式2.0

由日本經濟學家赤松要(Kaname Akamatsu)在1930年代提出的「雁行理論」(Flying Geese Paradigm),描述東亞國家從勞動密集型製造業,向資本和技術密集型產業升級發展。雁行理論指出,作為「領頭雁」的日本率先完成工業化,並通過外國直接投資帶動其他國家發展,令東亞經濟形成了一種相互依存、梯度推進的產業分工體系,其結構有如天空中的雁群。此理論在二戰後幾十年的經濟實踐中得到驗證,日本企業全球擴張的策略不但塑造了東亞製造業的格局,也成為後來中國、南韓等國家企業全球化之範本。

香港成為全球供應鏈管理中心的機遇與策略

在歷史上一直是國際上重要貿易樞紐的香港,正面臨着來自亞洲其他貨運港口的發展、跨境電子商貿的興起,以及新冠疫情和地緣政治緊張局勢所造成的挑戰。越來越多的公司採取「中國+N」策略來擴展生產網絡和降低風險。 隨著中國及其周邊國家在亞洲推動工業發展,港大經管學院副院長及亞洲環球研究所總監鄧希煒教授認為香港必須重新定義其戰略策略性定位,專注成為中國與新興經濟體之間的門戶,識別在區域供應鏈中具有比較優勢的環節,並通過把握新全球化趨勢來應對地緣政治緊張局勢。

競爭加劇,利潤縮減:香港的貿易挑戰

隨著中國於2001年加入世貿組織,香港的轉口港地位逐漸減弱,尤其是在中藥材的進出口方面。鄧希煒教授指出,內地港口快速發展,令香港在這一行業的依賴性降低。他提到,內地的生產力不斷提高,運輸成本也持續下降。例如,香港處理一個貨櫃的成本約為2,000美元,需停留三到五天,而在深圳或上海,成本可以減半甚至更多。隨著港口自動化和數位轉型,香港面臨的不僅是內地的競爭,還有來自亞洲其他港口的挑戰。 鄧教授強調,過去依賴轉口貿易的行業必須尋找新的出路。他表示,「2000年左右,每一元來到香港再轉口,我們可以賺取大概五毫;今時今日一元來香港再轉口,大概只剩下兩毫。」反映競爭加劇和成本壓力增加,導致利潤逐漸降低。他指出,這不僅影響中藥材的出口,整體上出口都有類似情況,顯示出香港在全球貿易格局中所面臨的挑戰。

跨境退休計劃或讓香港人享受更便宜的醫療服務

隨著香港面臨人口老齡化和低出生率的問題,許多退休人士發現自己在財務上準備不足。港大經管學院副院長及亞洲環球研究所總監鄧希煒教授在亞洲金融論壇(AFF)上分享了他的看法,指出「香港的養老壽險產品訂閱量實際上非常少。」他進一步指出,香港的強積金(MPF)只能覆蓋約40%的退休前收入,導致生活質量顯著下降。 隨著香港公共醫療系統變得越來越擁擠,而私人服務成本高昂,大灣區(GBA)提供了一個有前景的替代方案,那裡的生活和醫療成本顯著降低。鄧教授還表示:「我們開始看到很多香港人北上消費……但越來越多的人也會北上進行常規的醫療和牙科服務。」他建議,一個潛在的方向是開發保險產品,以覆蓋市民在大灣區退休時的需求。

香港需要支出有方,以應對老齡化帶來的財政壓力

香港政府預計本年度將出現近1000億港元的赤字,這一數字遠高於去年二月最初預測的481億港元。國際貨幣基金組織(IMF)強調,香港需要增強稅收以應對與人口老齡化相關的支出壓力。 港大經管學院副院長及亞洲環球研究所總監鄧希煒教授支持通過提高稅率或擴大稅基來解決可能出現的結構性財政赤字問題。他指出政府官員存在一種「心理陷阱」,認為提高稅收會損害生產力,同時指出新加坡實施商品及服務稅(GST)並未在中期內影響生產力。他表示:「擴大稅基,特別是引入銷售稅,將是一條單行道」,強調隨著政府開支增長,需尋求可持續的收入來源。

南北向交投創新高 駐港內企增20%

港大經管學院副院長及亞洲環球研究所總監鄧希煒教授指出近年不少內地企業因應內地經濟轉型及增長放緩,欲透過香港集資及「出海」。他強調:「內地企業有雙總部概念,研發製造總部多於大灣區的深圳,對外貿易及集資業務設在香港,正是看中本港金融市場擁有全球視野,有助拓展業務。」

提升香港工業基礎以推動科技商業化

港大經管學院副院長及亞洲環球研究所總監鄧希煒教授在最近的一次媒體訪問中指出:「香港並沒有堅實的工業基礎,這妨礙了科技商業化。」然而,他強調創造市場對科技的需求是至關重要的。香港必須利用粵港澳大灣區的人才和資本資源,以及製造和科技能力,以加速科技商業化的規模經濟。他表示:「當這裡建立更多戰略性企業時,將為本地和海外的人才創造高端科技職位,無論是在基礎科學還是應用科學領域,從而促進科技商業化。」

境外公司駐港新高 9960間 增10%

港大經管學院副院長(對外事務)鄧希煒教授表示,由於地緣政治因素,加上內地本土市場過度競爭,不少當地龍頭企業希望「出海」開拓市場。他舉例,近期來港掛牌的美的集團(00300)及順豐(06936)在內地上市多年,擇此時機在港掛牌,希望作全球部署。他直言,若只在上海或北京設置總部,內地資本管制下,資金較難投資外地,「幾十億資金難以到馬來西亞或越南」;以香港作為地區總部,就可集資及投資外地市場,擴展商業版圖。

香港經濟三大挑戰與四條出路

香港經濟自二戰後儘管經歷多次起伏,其國際金融及貿易中心地位,依然在世界經濟舞台上歷久不衰。然而,面對近年全球經濟增長放緩、區域競爭激烈及地緣政治局勢惡化,香港作為高度外向型的自由經濟體,我們不能因為過去均能化危為機便心存僥幸。時移世易,香港現時面對人口老化等諸多內憂,加上外部挑戰,未必如昔日般「耐寒」。

香港的戰略地位:供應鏈和專業服務

鄧希煒教授在接受TVB Pearl節目的訪問時表示,貿易戰已惡化,科技領域(如半導體、人工智能和機器人技術)明顯出現脫鉤現象。 然而,他認為香港仍然可以把握未來的機遇,將這座城市定位為供應鏈管理和專業服務(如金融服務和稅務諮詢)的中心。