If I have to pick three books for Western readers that best explains modern China, I would recommend Shaun Rein's recently released book, "The End of Cheap China: Economic and Cultural Trends That Will Disrupt the World." (Also, see my interview with the author earlier this year.) The book draws heavily on Rein's personal experience working and living in China. During one of … [Read more...] about Book Review: Shaun Rein, “The End of Cheap China”
economy
BRICS pondering their own development bank
At the latest BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the member nations have announced plans to evaluate forming their own development bank. Currency swaps between them are under way, and in fact, Russia and China are already settling bilateral trade in Rubles and RMB's. Below is Andrew Gavin Marshall weighing in on this development on Russia Today, with commentary about the lack of … [Read more...] about BRICS pondering their own development bank
The Retraction of Mike Daisey’s one-man show “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” from ‘This American Life’
[Editor: this piece was co-written by Charles Liu and Allen] To the credit of "This American Life" - a popular program on Public Radio International - its producers over the weekend officially retracted its January airing of a version of Mike Daisy's popular monologue titled “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,” in which Daisy described first-hand terrible work … [Read more...] about The Retraction of Mike Daisey’s one-man show “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” from ‘This American Life’
Democracy Is Ruining Capitalism – Does China Do Capitalism Better Than America?
Slate/Intelligence Squared appears to be planning an interesting live debate on March 13 - with Orville Schell and Peter Schiff arguing for the motion in the title and Ian Bremmer and Minxin Pei against. Details of the debate can be found at the slate and intelligence squared websites. The intelligence squared site - in particular - features a good and interesting set of … [Read more...] about Democracy Is Ruining Capitalism – Does China Do Capitalism Better Than America?
Glaxo CEO Witty on Competiveness and Innovation in China
In this short interview, CEO Witty of Glaxo - British multinational pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company - said that while Chinese government will continue to have a tension between building its domestic industry and fomenting an open competitive market in which foreign companies participates, it does a good job of making its market fair. Most … [Read more...] about Glaxo CEO Witty on Competiveness and Innovation in China