A group of scholars, professionals and former government officials has established the Hong Kong Future Economy Institute in Hong Kong to address a talent gap in the shrinking field of local studies. The institute pledges to conduct research on housing planning, population policy and policymaking impact assessments. Its founding director says universities' focus on global topics has led to fewer researchers on pressing local issues.
The Hong Kong Future Economy Institute was formed by a group of scholars, professionals and former government officials to fill a talent gap in the shrinking field of local studies in Hong Kong. Michael Bolin Wong, the founding director and an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong's business school, stated at a media briefing last week that few scholars at the city's institutions are interested in studying local topics. This shortage stems from universities' ongoing internationalization, where teachers increasingly focus on globally prominent issues.
"Hong Kong universities are continuing with internationalisation and so are their teachers. But when they increasingly focus on topics with more international attention, fewer people are researching Hong Kong," Wong said. He added, "Universities may not be able to address such a shortage … so we need a new model to offer the policy research that Hong Kong requires."
The institute pledges to conduct studies on housing planning, population policy and impact assessments of policymaking. Wong highlighted the need for the government to develop more youth-friendly housing policies, noting that young people receive less support from authorities compared to previous generations. The launch addresses a perceived decline in local research capacity, though specific details on funding or exact establishment date were not provided.