First published: Prospectmagazine.co.uk article, 16/05/2016
How long until the country faces up to its financial instability?
I have just returned from my annual visit to China, the mission being to get a feel for the economy, which is in an increasingly fractious period right now. Many economists do this, yet it’s unclear whether we come away with a better idea as to what will happen, or whether we simply confirm what we already know, that China is a nation of extraordinary contrasts. You can see this in its geography, its urban areas and the urban-rural divide. You can see it in the air, the yellow smog that hangs over its cities one week, and deep blue skies the next. You can see it when you snake your way though the hutongs—tranquil ancient alleyways and courtyards—in Beijing’s residential neighbourhoods before they empty out into six or eight-lane expressway systems. This may seem like a strange segue into China’s political economy, but bear with me….Read more:
