Do you really understand inflation?

Even if you've never studied economics, chances are you've heard of inflation—it’s when prices rise and your money buys less. But do you really understand what inflation is? And more importantly, how can we protect ourselves from it?

Professor Chuanqi Zhu from Sun Yat-sen University believes that understanding how the world works fundamentally helps us all. If we can get a clearer grasp on terms like inflation, real value, and nominal value—concepts that sound familiar but are often misunderstood—we’ll be able to make smarter choices in life. On Zhihu, a popular question asks, “Who are the best teachers at Sun Yat-sen University?” Professor Zhu, who teaches macroeconomics at Lingnan College, is a popular answer. He’s known for his dry jokes, creative pre-exam nudges, and his inclusive attitude—he treats every student equally and never gives up on anyone. As a kid, Chuanqi once dreamed of becoming a chef. Somehow, that dream took a detour and led him to the lecture halls of a university, teaching economics. While he does engage in serious research from time to time, his bigger hope is to make economics fun, relatable, and still grounded in logic. Ideally, he hopes more young people can start learning economics early, so they can better understand how the world truly works.