China's local government debt burden weighs on investment

Fixing the problem could require a major structural change in how the world's second-largest economy operates.
The local government debt crisis China faces is directly linked to troubles in the property sector.
Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

China and Japan have a little less appetite for U.S. Treasurys

Aug 21, 2023
The two biggest foreign holders of U.S. debt have their own complicated reasons for buying fewer Treasurys.
In Japan, the weak yen is playing a role in the reduced appetite for U.S. Treasurys. Above, the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo.
Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

Chinese animation house puts AI capabilities to the test

Aug 21, 2023
Base Media and iQiyi see potential for a creative edge in a competitive market. But U.S. clients worry about copyright infringement.
A screenshot of an animation after AI tools were applied. The brick wall and background are generated by AI.
Courtesy Base Media/iQiyi Wonderworks

In China, prices have been falling for too long

Deflation has led to lost revenue for companies, layoffs, and decreased consumer spending.
Falling prices might be what the U.S. is aiming for, but in China, too much of a good thing is leading to layoffs and decreased spending.
Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images

China's economy is slowing. Is the political economy to blame?

Aug 9, 2023
Adam Posen of the Peterson Institute says that implementation of the zero-COVID policies made people feel "very insecure."
According to Adam Posen, it's been difficult for China's leaders to re-establish trust after the implementation of zero-COVID. "We've already seen leaders from the Communist Party around President Xi Jingping say, 'Oh, no, we want a vibrant private sector in China, said Posen. "But it's hard to be credible once you get to that point."
Ken Ishii-Pool/Getty Images

Why it's getting more expensive to hire workers in China

Aug 9, 2023
China’s government is making employers pay more into its social welfare system, just as the economy is stalling.
STR/AFP via Getty Images

China's exports are falling, and that's a bad sign for the global economy

Aug 8, 2023
China is the world’s top exporter, and its trade data is a barometer for consumer spending around the world.
China’s exports fell 14.5% in July from a year earlier, the biggest decline since the start of the pandemic. Above, a port in China's eastern Jiangsu province.
STR/AFP via Getty Images

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Why China's economic rebound has fallen short of expectations

Aug 7, 2023
After China lifted its zero-COVID policy, economists expected the economy to come roaring back. That hasn't quite happened.
Consumers saddled with debt after China's housing bubble burst are less inclined to go on spending sprees.
Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images

Why are China and India still burning so much coal?

Jul 31, 2023
A new report from the International Energy Agency shows global demand for coal reached a record level in 2022 — and it’s not likely to go down any time soon.
Countries like India and China rely on coal for two big reasons: It’s usually cheap and available, said Sanya Carley, a professor of energy policy at the University of Pennsylvania.
Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images

Reviving China's rural economy, one peach tree at a time

Jul 25, 2023
Chinese officials have pushed for young entrepreneurs to return and revitalize the countryside, but the task is complex.
Liu Pingfu dreamed of working in the big city when he was young, but is keen to return to the countryside.
Christian Petersen-Clausen for Marketplace