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Sara Hsu

Sara Hsu

Dr. Sara Hsu is an expert in Chinese fintech, economic development, informal finance, and shadow banking. She is the author of “China’s Fintech Explosion.”

Sara Hsu is a Clinical Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Prior to that, she was an Associate Professor of Economics at the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Dr. Hsu specializes in Chinese supply chains, fintech, economic development, informal finance, and shadow banking. She has published one of the only English-language books on the topic of Chinese fintech, “China’s Fintech Explosion,” and informal finance, “Informal Finance in China: American and Chinese Perspectives,” as well as one of the only Chinese-language books on Chinese shadow banking. She has also published a number of articles and books on the topics of sustainable development, financial crises, and trade.

Sara Hsu earned her Ph.D. from the University of Utah, her MBA from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and her BA from Wellesley College.
Posts by Sara Hsu
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August 17, 2021

A New Way to Explain – and Predict – China’s Economic Policymaking

By Sara Hsu
Using a machine-learning process and a variety of economic, media, and regulatory factors, I have found ways to understand how certain types of Chinese policies are made.
August 12, 2021

China’s Insurtech Crackdown: Tech Saga Continues

By Sara Hsu
As if the existing tech crackdown wasn’t sufficient, China just rolled out new regulations for internet insurance companies.

August 06, 2021

China’s Tech Sector Regulations Are Costly But Not Shocking

By Sara Hsu
The flurry of tech industry regulations follows China’s typical pattern of regulatory crackdown on a sector that has been allowed to grow over time.

July 26, 2021

Reality Check: China’s Digital Yuan Is Not a Threat to the West

By Sara Hsu
There are enough real issue between the U.S. and China. There is little need to invent tensions, such as with the Chinese digital currency.

July 20, 2021

China’s ‘Circular 15’ Addresses Local Governments’ Hidden Debts

By Sara Hsu
Local government financing vehicle bonds are coming under increasing scrutiny as a source of financial risk.
July 02, 2021

US Firms Cannot Ignore the Growing Risks of a Possible China-US Military Conflict

By Sara Hsu
U.S. businesses need to consider the impact of a physical conflict on their Chinese production and distribution bases.

June 22, 2021

China Hates Crypto: Message Received

By Sara Hsu
The current crackdown on mining goes even further in eradicating cryptocurrency activities from China’s economy.
June 11, 2021

Which Asian Nations Can Benefit From the ‘China Plus One’ Strategy?

By Sara Hsu
As supply chain diversification becomes the name of the game, some of China’s neighbors are looking to provide attractive alternatives.

May 26, 2021

How Will China Respond to Rising Inflation?

By Sara Hsu
China’s central bank will be keeping a close eye on trends, but for now expect it to stay the course.

May 22, 2021

Is China’s Belt and Road Initiative a Threat to the US?

By Sara Hsu
While there's room for improvement, there is little evidence that the BRI is something to fear.

May 08, 2021

Chinese Subsidies: A Threat to US Competitiveness?

By Sara Hsu
Are Chinese subsidies to firms in strategic sectors a threat to the competitiveness of U.S. companies?
April 27, 2021

Senate’s Strategic Competition Act Will Make China-US Relations Worse, Not Better

By Sara Hsu
The overall thrust of the Strategic Competition Act of 2021 is that China is an adversary that cannot be negotiated with.

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