Some Critical Thoughts on China

Whenever I see an article that references China's success I always feel the need to comment on how much they still have to work out. Now the article got me going this time was actually a great article and the author did nothing wrong but I still feel the need to put China in it's place.

The point of the article is that China is booming and as a result fewer Chinese people are seeking out their futures in America. That's great, go China! In my opinion the more awesomeness in the world the better. But fewer emigration does not a successful society make. China has many unresolved problems that will crop up.

1. They have far more young men than young girls as a result of their one child policy. From this one can assume that their will be many sexually frustrated men in the coming decades. Either China embraces polygamy and or prostitution (both of which have numerous detractors globally) or it must seriously address the problem.

2. Another casualty of China's one child policy is it's aging population. In order to cope with this problem China is going to have to allow for a lot of immigration. Which we all know is never a hot button issue. More on this later.

3. Endemic favoritism and corruption. Not only will this get in the way of liberalizing an economy but this will stoke social and ethnic tensions. One can an imagine a situation in which Han Chinese officials prefer to do business with fellow Hans and not the countries minorities.

Which leads me to...

4. China's lack of an open society will be its Achilles heal. Without a proper way to air grievances how will China ever be able to overcome the effects of a gender gap, inequality, a need for rising immigration, disgruntled minorities and corrupt officials? Without a credible system what citizenry will stand by as the government ignores problems in order to maintain power and enrich itself? We are currently seeing A Russian population is growing weary of the implicit bargain that a limited society equals better living standards. What happens when China inevitably slows down (India all ready is)? I for one don't see the Occupy movement going over well in China.

While China is prospering now I do not see a happy ending if it maintains its current path.

For further reading I recommend The Economist's special report on China.