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Which country is most comparable to China? 
Normally, it has to be some country in East Asia (i.e., Asians) or Russia (i.e., communists)
Think outside the box
In my reading, one of the closest parallels to China today is 19th century America.
Gilded Ages.
Normally, it has to be some country in East Asia (i.e., Asians) or Russia (i.e., communists)
Think outside the box
In my reading, one of the closest parallels to China today is 19th century America.
Gilded Ages.
China or America? Parallels or opposites?
For an audio version of this chapter, kindly read by the wonderful @_alice_evans, check out her podcast 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gf7DpZyaEZkoFFq67NUY1
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gf7DpZyaEZkoFFq67NUY1
Coexistence of corruption & $ boom in China is puzzling only when we accept the "idealized" story of capitalism: the West had eradicated corruption & did the right things > boom!
But once we revisit the real history, we realize that China is just as "abnormal" as the West
But once we revisit the real history, we realize that China is just as "abnormal" as the West
If we take GDP per capita as one measure, the years 1999 to 2006 in China (under Hu Jintao & Wen Jiabao) are most comparable to America's Gilded Age (1870-1900).
Media mentions of corruption during China's & America's Gilded Age
Spurt of mentions under Xi is because this leader has made anti-corruption his signature policy
Did corruption in the U.S. disappear? No, it changed forms, to types that don't land on
as "corruption"
Spurt of mentions under Xi is because this leader has made anti-corruption his signature policy
Did corruption in the U.S. disappear? No, it changed forms, to types that don't land on
as "corruption"
. @nytimes recently had a revealing report on favor-seeking under Trump. The word used was "swamp."
The word "corruption" only appeared twice and specifically in reference to two foreigners. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/10/us/trump-properties-swamp.html
The word "corruption" only appeared twice and specifically in reference to two foreigners. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/10/us/trump-properties-swamp.html
Why compare China and the U.S.? Helps to be reminded of commonalities: growing pains of a Gilded Age.
We're now living through China's Gilded Age 1.0 vs. America's Gilded Age 2.0.
We're now living through China's Gilded Age 1.0 vs. America's Gilded Age 2.0.
Thanks Josh Cartwright at Young China Watchers for a thoughtful interview, especially highlighting the US-China comparison https://www.youngchinawatchers.com/voices-on-china-yuen-yuen-ang-professor-of-political-science-at-the-university-of-michigan/
