June 2012
Demographics: A Ticking Time Bomb?
Profound demographic changes are redrawing the parameters of China’s future. These changes include a substantial decline in the supply of young labor, the escalating financial burden of caring for the elderly, and an aging society with Chinese characteristics—namely a severely weakened family support system, caused in large part by China’s three-decade one-child policy. These changes have already begun to exert a powerful impact on the Chinese economy, and pose a serious risk to future economic growth, social harmony and political stability. How serious are the demographic challenges facing China, and what can be done to lessen their impact?
Also in this issue:
- Will Freeman identifies a second wave of Chinese exports
- Michael Komesaroff explains why Chinese mining companies struggle abroad
- Rosealea Yao and Thomas Gatley argue that housing prices are more affordable than you think
- Chao Gupiao looks at the latest move to open up stock markets to foreign investors
- Scott Kennedy reports on the advance of private firms
- G.E. Anderson explains why China has no big car brands
- Matthew Forney and Stella Zhou ponder the next step for China’s biggest maker of construction equipment
- Arthur Kroeber reviews a timely new book by George Gilboy and Eric Heginbotham on the strategic implications of China’s rise