The Economist (June 14)
In China, golf is “a barometer of change.” Banned under Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping allowed a few golf courses for foreign investors. Then, with rising affluence, “more locals wanted to try the sport. Suddenly more golf courses were being built in China than anywhere else, despite the fact that their construction was technically illegal.”
Tags: Affluence, Barometer, Change, China, Construction, Deng Xiaoping, Golf, Golf courses, Illegal, Investors, Mao Zedong, Sport
The Economist (November 16, 2013)
“Xi Jinping has made himself the most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping. That is probably a good thing.” His predecessor Hu Jintao proved unable to surmount the numerous obstacles to real reform. President Xi will need this increased muscle to overcome entrenched interests. “Too many people do too well out of today’s system to make change easy,” but change it should.
Tags: Deng Xiaoping, Entrenched interests, Hu Jintao, Leader, Obstacles, Power, Reform, Xi Jinping