The Political and Economic Plight of China’s Minorities
Category: China
China as a Net Exporter of Capital
The governments and people of Southeast Asia must develop a strong sense of ownership and control over infrastructure projects as China increasingly directs its investments towards the region’s infrastructure.
Chinese Economy Loses More Momentum in April
China’s targeted growth of 7.0 percent for the year may not occur as the economy suffers from weaker consumer spending, sluggish export growth, property decline and a lack of infrastructure projects. The People’s Bank of China cut another interest rate this week, and analysts expect Chinese officials to commence more monetary easing measures and increase spending.
China’s Changing Industrial Landscape is not Benefiting the Lives of its Millions of Workers
China’s industrial landscape is in a process of rapid transformation. As low-end industries are squeezed by rising costs for land, labour and other resources, the Chinese government has reinforced its efforts to improve industrial practices and make production models more sophisticated. Sadly, however, these changes have not improved the lot of the more than 150m migrant workers who fill the factories.
China Cuts Interest Rates for Third Time since December
China has cut interest rates for the third time in just six months as the country struggles with falling growth rates. The People’s Bank of China cut interest rates to just 5.1%, a 25 basis point decline that is aimed at encouraging more lending, more borrowing, and more investment.
Ningxia Could Be The Starting Point for Islamic Finance in China
Islamic finance has been growing rapidly across the world in recent years. Today, the operation of Islamic banks and their associated financial institutions has created a trillion-dollar industry and is becoming a crucial mechanism for countries looking to increase their trade with Muslim nations in Asia and the Middle East especially.
Its popularity largely stems from operating under the principles of risk sharing and interest-free transaction. In contrast to conventional finance, transactions under Islamic finance operate under strict, risk-averse conditions.
What Would ‘Unconventional Monetary Policy’ from the PBOC Look Like?
Press reports suggest that the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) is considering unconventional monetary policies, including direct purchases of local government bonds and/or some sort of long-term refinancing operation (LTRO) using local government bonds as collateral. While there is no universal definition of QE, we make the distinction that the former (direct bond purchases) are unconventional measures, while the latter (long-term liquidity injections) are along conventional lines.
China’s Growth Likely Overstated; Actual Figures Hard to Determine
China released its first quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) tabulations in early April. The figure it quoted, seven percent, represented the worst rate of growth for the Asian economic power in six years. This caused many to fear a worsening slowdown of the Chinese economy. Yet, more bad news was still to come.
Should China’s ‘Dynamic Growth’ Model Serve Other Countries Economic Aspirations?
China’s revival of ‘South–South’ economic relations raises the opportunity of re-balancing global power. This could have profound implications for economic progress, including poverty reduction and structural change, in the developing world.
China Growth Cools
Economic growth in China continues to cool as manufacturing falls to its lowest output in a year.
According to the Purchasing Managers Index published by HSBC and Markit Economics, Asia’s largest economy saw its manufacturing industry contract in the lowest reading in a year. The PMI fell to 49.2 in April, far below expectations.
