Zhang Wuchang's anecdotes and allusions.

On April 6, 2008, I found Zhang's article "How is food safe?" On Tencent. 》

How is food safe?

In the discussion of the two sessions, the issues concerning agriculture, countryside and farmers have been concerned, and the call for reducing the peasant population seems to have increased. At the same time, the problem of food security has become more prominent. The latter is the thinking of European physiocracy more than 200 years ago. The superficial explanation of "food security" is that a country's agricultural products need to be self-sufficient, not imported. In recent years, the agricultural land in China has decreased, and its own grain has declined. Worryingly, China has become a food importer.

I once pointed out that as a country with the largest population, there are really few high-quality cultivated land in proportion. To become an economic power, China must transfer a large number of peasant population to industry. Therefore, it is inevitable to import a lot of food. By 2005, the return rate of industrial land in many areas is more than 10 times higher than that of agricultural land, and the export of a small TV set can be exchanged for the import of about one ton of non-quality white rice. The benefits of changing from agriculture to industry are enormous.

Over the past year or so, perhaps because the government has helped agriculture and farmers in many ways, the speed of changing from agriculture to work is obviously insufficient, because the industry urgently needs the shortage of migrant workers. Although the overall economic development in 2005 was good, the route was wrong. If it continues, the adverse effects of this route will become obvious. Caring for farmers means encouraging them to change industries and helping them stay in agriculture, which will harm them sooner or later.

It is not easy for us to estimate what percentage of the population in China today are farmers. The official figure is 69%, but the part-time population is very large, and more and more factories are leaving the city. Calculated by full-time agriculture (for example, two and a half farmers count as one), the percentage of farmers should be less than 69%. If not, the intuitive judgment is that there will be no impressive industrial development in China. Looking at foreign experience, to become an economic power, the number of full-time farmers in China should be reduced to about 25% of the population. This means that China will import a lot of food.

Is it safe? I once pointed out that there is no safer supply than one that makes others make money. Even if there is a political dispute between countries and there is the possibility of an embargo, wealthy businessmen can always find a way, not to mention that so many agricultural export countries in the world have to compete with each other. China has no other choice to move towards economic prosperity. But I can make three suggestions to increase the safety of food supply.

(1) The government will fully open grain imports to private (or private) businessmen and will never limit the number of licenses. This is also the main reason why Hong Kong has never lacked food without agriculture. Countless scattered grain merchants compete with each other, come up with their own ideas and methods, and they always have ways to deal with any war or political troubles.

(2) The profitable examples of floating cage fish culture at sea and oyster and mussel culture at the beach have long been recorded. The government should rent out all the beaches and beaches suitable for artificial cultivation of seafood to private investors in the form of bidding.

(3) It is important to define and protect farmers' land rights, but it is equally important to allow farmland with the right of definition to have the right of free circulation. Of course, many local governments have to make a living by leasing or selling land, and the division of land for agriculture, industry, commerce and residence is a very profound knowledge, so I won't talk about it here because of space limitations.

Objectively speaking, the import of knowledge, oil and iron ore that China needs is more important than the import of agricultural products, but why didn't NPC and CPPCC discuss the insecurity of these imports? My answer is: I can't help importing, so Wang Gu talked about him. Objectively speaking, agricultural products cannot be imported, and there are far more foreign suppliers than oil or iron ore. Mr Zhang Wuchang.

1959 studied under Achian, the founder of modern property rights economics, and 1967 received his doctorate. Later, he got a job in Coase, the Nobel Master of Economics. 1969 was hired as a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, and 1982 has been a professor at the University of Hong Kong.

Zhang Wuchang is one of the founders of new institutional economics and modern property rights economics. 1997 was elected president of the American Western Economic Association, and this position was awarded to economists outside the United States for the first time.

Zhang Wuchang is a great orator, from Europe and America to China, from the forum of universities to the palace of courts, from think tanks to public forums. His audience includes students, professors, housewives, employees, entrepreneurs, prime ministers and general secretaries. Some people say it's trivial, others say it's alarmist. A few days ago, he came to give a speech at Zhongshan University in Guangzhou. With a large audience and strong response, CUHK's teachers are second to none. Zhang Wuchang is recognized as a master of property rights theory, and his friends such as Coase, Friedman, Aqin and other academic leaders all say that he is "the only one in a hundred years". Zhang Wuchang rejected the Nobel Prize in Economics on the grounds that the committee was too utilitarian. He quoted a fellow villager in Guangdong as saying, "Face is given by others, and the shelf is built by himself." But he said publicly: "100 years later, at least six or seven of my articles will be read." Which Nobel Prize winner dares to say so. "

Zhang Wuchang looked down on most economists because "they don't know the world". In addition to his serious career as a student and professor, he also escaped from famine, did business, sold antiques, held art exhibitions, fought lawsuits and worked as an analyst. Naturally, "read thousands of books and take Wan Li Road." Therefore, his articles are particularly simple, but he never tires of reading them, and he often reads them and is always new. Zhang Wuchang's speech was straightforward and didn't give anyone any face, because he loved the truth and was proud of it. One night he said 1983, he wrote the article "The Essence of Enterprise Contract". Although it has not been drafted yet, it is known to be a masterpiece handed down from generation to generation, and people will read it in a hundred years. "So, I laughed to the sky."

Zhang Wuchang has unkempt curly white hair. Although he is over sixty years old, he still looks very cartoon. His experience has also been cartoonized, with a simplicity and drama that the real world lacks. For example, when he was a child, he often played truant, was expelled from school twice, and never graduated from middle school. However, it only took him nine years to enter the university and become a full professor. His major is economics, but he published a picture album with three famous Hong Kong photographers, and his calligraphy achievements were awarded to painters by Shanghai China Painting Academy.

When I first met Zhang Wuchang, I didn't feel very well. In the lobby bar of the White Swan Hotel, Zhang appeared in a group of people with messy hair and no smile-celebrities and authority forced me to give up this interview. But I soon found out that I was wrong. After sitting down quietly, I found that except his wife and two or three friends, seven or eight young people were local ordinary college students and even middle school students. No matter what they ask, Zhang is always ready to answer and gradually becomes happy and eloquent.

It seems that he really likes being with students, and he doesn't look tired and impatient from morning till night. The next day, he went to middle school to give a speech-how do middle school students understand his new institutional economics? He told them how to study and how to choose a teacher, saying that "teachers are very important, but they are not that important". The students clapped and drummed wildly.

People can't live to a state. Like Zhang Wuchang, he is comfortable even if he sits in an uncomfortable chair. When giving a speech in middle school, whenever a student gritted his teeth and applauded, he would lean back in his chair and hang down his arms-still very comfortable. He won't make himself uncomfortable His unscrupulous comments on calligraphy, photography and music are also unique "Zhang Shi". The good is excellent, the best in the world, and the bad is rubbish, which is worthless. There is never authority in the eyes. Of course, you can't take his economics seriously. He takes black and white photos, which has the charm of Chinese painting. He takes pictures of people, but it is as clean and gorgeous as a studio, and his beautiful wife is tacky.

After reading so many books and knowing how to use body language, his handshake was warm and comfortable. Walking on the sandy path, he and his wife held hands and left a group of people behind. His figure is thin and tall, and he was probably symmetrical when he was young. In 2009, he was humorous and liked to eat with beautiful women. Mrs. Zhang said to him, "I don't remember it afterwards. Tell me, was it you who ate next to me last time? " Good for him. That's it.

His wife is beautiful and capable, and she has her own business in America-not a housewife. In mainland China, his wife works as his Mandarin interpreter almost simultaneously. Is the professor a good companion in life? His wife said, "That depends on what you want. He is really cute. " He made fun of him again. "Food and clothing don't pay attention. People know that his wife has come back as soon as they see his clothes. He can't match the color himself.

Eating is just so-so. Sometimes I say' not delicious' after eating, but I also eat a lot. "Husband and wife are generally eloquent, and their words are crisp and vivid, which is quite different from ordinary literati. Small file: Resume: 1959, studied under the founder of modern property rights economics, Aqin, in the Economics Department of the University of California, USA. 1967 received his doctorate.

From 1967 to 1969, he got the jobs of Friedman and Coase of the University of Chicago and the Nobel Economic Society. 1969, Professor, University of Washington, Seattle. 1982-2000, Professor, School of Economics and Finance, University of Hong Kong. 1997 was elected president of the American Western Economic Association, and this position was awarded to economists outside the United States for the first time.

Academic contribution: His belief in the importance of property rights affecting economic behavior made him almost completely focus on all aspects of transaction costs. His several important academic papers made him one of the founders of new institutional economics. 199 1 Ronald coase, winner of the nobel prize in economics, pointed out in his acceptance speech that Zhang Wuchang and two other economists also made outstanding contributions to the prize-winning achievements. He is currently writing the book Economic Interpretation, which is the essence of decades of academic research. For many years, Zhang Wuchang has been close to the Nobel Prize. Coase said that Zhang Wuchang is the one who knows the true meaning of his thoughts best. He has worked with modern real estate masters North and barzel for many years. He is closely related to most Nobel laureates in economics. Many of them publicly announced or admitted that their economic thoughts benefited from this China man named Stephen. 199 1 year, Zhang Wuchang, as the only economist who didn't win the Nobel Prize, attended the Nobel Prize awarding ceremony that year.

Someone once asked him bluntly: Why were you deprived of Zhang Wuchang's Nobel Prize in Economics? Zhang Wuchang said with a smile, "All my 1 1 friends have won the Nobel Prize, so I'm the only one left. Maybe I am too good! " Typical Zhang answer.

In fact, when he was teaching in Seattle, he had a seminar with barzel and North, but he never attended it. Occasionally, I will stand up and say, why should we waste time listening to such a boring speech here? Say that finish turned to leave.

He looked at the world with great interest, just like wandering in the streets of Xihewan in those days, and it was endless fun.

When Zhang Wuchang was teaching in Washington, his house was by the sea. He observed the life cycle of trout going upstream, spawning and returning to the nearby waters, and thought about how fishermen deal with trout whose home is the sea, thus thinking about the ownership. Run to the apple orchard to raise bees and write fables about bees; Walking up and down the street for more than ten years, "like a madman", selling oranges and jewels, studying the phenomena in market transactions, and strolling out economic explanations.

1one night in 983, when he finished writing the article "The Essence of Enterprise Contract", although he had not started writing, it was known that it was a masterpiece handed down from ancient times and people would read it one hundred years later.

However, he doesn't understand the word "modesty" too much. People who don't like him have to admit his attainments and talents in economic theory, but they don't like his madness. Some old-school scholars are particularly worried that his dogmatic and unconventional growth path in academic training will bring bad influence to the younger generation.

For the accusation of "arrogance", Zhang Wuchang refuted it with Mozart's famous saying in the article "The Son of God": "If you ignore a person's achievements and criticize him as a proud person, then you are truly proud."

"People say I am a genius. However, you don't know how tired I am writing my thesis. I don't think a genius should be so tired. I should not be a genius. "

"Economists are for people."

From 65438 to 0982, Zhang Wuchang returned to Hong Kong to teach from the United States at the invitation of the University of Hong Kong. At that time, he was already one of the best China economists in American economics. His pioneering contributions in contract theory, information economics and property rights analysis theory made his return to HKU a major event in Hong Kong's academic, business and even political circles at that time.

Back home, Zhang Wuchang was in high spirits. For an economist who is deeply interested in reality, nothing is more exciting than participating in and influencing the economic reform process, which accounts for a quarter of the world's population! He is not a master immersed in learning.

"Madman" is really versatile, with quite a lot of photography, calligraphy and art collections. With this capital, he once laughed at his old friend Friedman's world with only knowledge and no art.

But what is more well known is his essays in various newspapers. His essays on economics are so interesting that even people who don't understand economics like to read them. He loves to speculate on domestic hot issues, and often throws out amazing words such as "calling for the opening of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor" and "China's current system is the best system".

This is a proud old man, proud of his superior intellectual advantage, not unaware of his real role and weight. In fact, you don't understand, and the cruel reality will eventually make him understand this.

When he was most sought after, he toured the mainland and preached everywhere, and there were countless students under the stage; When I was left out in front of the door, I lived in Hong Kong across the water and continued my views and suggestions on domestic and foreign policy affairs in blogs and newspapers.

Yang Xiaokai commented on many weaknesses in his character before his death. He said, "Zhang's biggest weakness is that he can't handle interpersonal relationships, including his relationship with the government."

You know yourself very well. You are as smart as Zhang Wuchang. How can you not know the truth?

"You gave me my reputation, not me." "I care about the development of China, which is a fact. But how can I improve society? You can't think so highly of me. In fact, economists are used by people. No matter what policies they want to implement, they all say that Zhang Wuchang supports them. If you criticize any of his bad policies, you will be ignored. "

As the dean of the School of Economics and Finance of HKU, will Zhang Wuchang really become the first China native to win the Nobel Prize in Economics, as some media have rumored? Is the Nobel Committee collecting information about Zhang Wuchang? A few days ago, the reporter interviewed the Royal Swedish Academy of Science, which is responsible for the Nobel Prize selection. The reply from the Royal Academy of Swedish Academy to the reporter is: Before the Committee makes a decision, any information of the candidates is confidential, and they don't comment on any rumors.

The reporter interviewed Zhang Wuchang who was giving a lecture in Chengdu. Zhang Wuchang said that some people in the Nobel Committee are collecting his information. Regarding the Nobel Prize, he said that many times it was the wishful thinking of others. The Nobel Prize is a very precious prize. Zhang Wuchang believes: "I got an opportunity to win this honor after 40 years of hard research on economics." A reporter asked Zhang Wuchang: If you win the Nobel Prize, what do you think is the most likely reason? Zhang Wuchang replied that the most likely one is the doctoral thesis "The Theory of Tenant Farmers" written by 1969.

Every year, the Nobel Committee writes to hundreds of scientists and research institutions, asking them to nominate candidates for next year's Nobel Prize. Nominations usually end on February 1 every year. Next, the Nobel Committee will set up a special organization to examine the achievements of the candidates and make a choice. The final result will be announced in June 65438+ 10 every year. Zhang Wuchang: It's not that the house price is too high, but that the income is too low. There is no bubble in real estate.

There has been a long-standing debate about the real estate bubble in China, and people are confused about the size of the real estate bubble. 20 12 economist Zhang Wuchang gave his own response and explanation to this question.

Economist Zhang Wuchang 20121216 said that there is no bubble in the real estate market in China, and the main reason why people can't afford houses is "not the high housing prices, but the low income of residents".

Zhang Wuchang said at the Phoenix Financial Summit that people should be encouraged to buy houses, because buying houses is an important way for ordinary people to accumulate wealth.