Why China has higher economic growth rates?

There are several factors that have contributed to China's success in its economy:


  1. Market-oriented reforms: China began to implement market-oriented economic reforms in the late 1970s, which allowed for greater private enterprise, investment, and foreign trade. These reforms have helped to increase competition, productivity, and innovation in the Chinese economy.
  2. Large and skilled workforce: China has a large and highly skilled workforce, with a strong emphasis on education and training. This has enabled China to become a major producer of high-tech goods and services.
  3. Investment in infrastructure: China has invested heavily in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, airports, and high-speed rail, which has helped to facilitate economic growth and development.
  4. Government intervention: The Chinese government has played a significant role in promoting economic growth and development, through policies such as tax incentives, subsidies, and state-owned enterprises.
  5. Global trade and investment: China has become a major player in global trade and investment, with its exports and foreign investments increasing rapidly over the past few decades. This has helped to fuel China's economic growth and has allowed the country to diversify its sources of economic growth.


However, it is important to note that China's economic success has also been accompanied by challenges and criticisms, including issues related to income inequality, environmental degradation, and human rights abuses.


Dual currency system :

China has used a dual currency system in the past, and it continues to use a limited form of it today. The dual currency system refers to the use of two different currencies within an economy, usually with one currency being used for domestic transactions and another for international transactions.


From the 1950s to the early 1990s, China used a dual currency system with two different currencies: the Renminbi (RMB) for domestic use, and the Foreign Exchange Certificate (FEC) for international transactions. The FEC was used primarily by foreigners and was not convertible into other currencies.


Today, China's limited dual currency system involves the use of the RMB for domestic transactions and a separate version of the RMB, called the CNH, for offshore transactions. The CNH is traded freely on international markets, while the RMB is subject to strict capital controls imposed by the Chinese government.


The use of the CNH has allowed China to promote international use of the RMB and increase its role as a global currency. However, the dual currency system can also create challenges for Chinese policymakers in managing exchange rates, controlling capital flows, and maintaining financial stability.


China's RMB is subject to strict capital controls that are imposed by the government to regulate the inflow and outflow of capital. These controls limit the ability of individuals and businesses to move money in and out of the country, and they are intended to help the government manage the value of the currency, prevent financial instability, and maintain macroeconomic stability.


Ways that China's RMB is subject to capital controls include:

  1. Restrictions on foreign investment: China has limits on the amount of money that can be invested in the country by foreign individuals and companies.
  2. Limits on currency exchange: Individuals and businesses are subject to limits on the amount of RMB that can be converted into foreign currency or taken out of the country.
  3. Monitoring of bank transactions: China's government monitors bank transactions and can restrict or deny certain transactions if they believe they could be detrimental to the country's economy or financial stability.
  4. Approval requirements: Some types of transactions, such as foreign currency loans, require approval from the government before they can be conducted.


These capital controls have helped China maintain a stable currency and prevent capital flight, but they can also create challenges for individuals and businesses seeking to move money in and out of the country.


Modern Monetary Theory (MMT):

China's economic policies and practices do not align entirely with the principles of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). MMT is a macroeconomic theory that emphasizes the role of government spending in creating and maintaining full employment, and argues that a government that issues its own currency can never run out of money to spend.


While China does have a large and active government sector that plays an important role in the economy, it also has a significant private sector and operates within the framework of a market-oriented economy. China's government does engage in deficit spending and monetary policy, but it also places limits on government debt and has taken steps to control inflation.


Furthermore, while China does have some control over its monetary policy and the value of its currency, it operates within a global financial system that limits its ability to completely control its monetary policy.


In summary, while China's economic policies and practices may share some similarities with certain aspects of MMT, they cannot be classified as purely adhering to the theory.


China's government does engage in deficit spending and has used monetary policy to fund its economic development, but it is important to note that it does not simply "print money" to finance its spending. Instead, the government raises funds through a variety of means, including borrowing, issuing bonds, and collecting taxes, among others.


In recent years, China's government has used various monetary and fiscal policies to support economic growth and development. For example, it has lowered interest rates, reduced reserve requirements for banks, and provided various forms of stimulus to the economy, all of which can increase the money supply and stimulate economic activity.


However, China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, also has a mandate to maintain price stability and control inflation, which limits the extent to which it can engage in expansionary monetary policy.


In summary, while China's government has used monetary policy and deficit spending to support economic development, it does not simply "print money" to fund its spending. It employs a range of policy tools to raise funds and support economic growth while also seeking to maintain price stability and control inflation.


It is not accurate to say that any of the G7 countries simply "print money" to fund their spending, as all of these countries have established monetary and fiscal policies that involve a range of measures for raising funds, controlling inflation, and supporting economic growth. However, the G7 countries have implemented different policies and approaches to monetary policy in response to their unique economic circumstances.


  1. United States: The U.S. Federal Reserve has implemented various monetary policies, including quantitative easing and lowering interest rates, to support economic growth and control inflation. The U.S. government has also engaged in deficit spending, issuing bonds and collecting taxes to finance its spending.
  2. Canada: The Bank of Canada has implemented similar monetary policies, such as quantitative easing and lowering interest rates, to support economic growth and control inflation. The Canadian government has also used fiscal policies, such as deficit spending, to finance its spending.
  3. United Kingdom: The Bank of England has also implemented monetary policies such as quantitative easing and lowering interest rates. The UK government has also used fiscal policies, such as deficit spending, to finance its spending.
  4. Germany: The European Central Bank controls monetary policy for Germany, as well as the other countries in the Eurozone. The German government has implemented a range of fiscal policies, such as balanced budget requirements and tax incentives for businesses, to support economic growth.
  5. France: Like Germany, France's monetary policy is controlled by the European Central Bank. The French government has used fiscal policies, such as increased infrastructure spending and tax cuts for businesses, to support economic growth.



Michael Hudson is an American economist who has written extensively on issues related to finance, debt, and economic history. He has been critical of many aspects of the current global economic system, particularly the role of the financial sector. Michael Hudson is a professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the United States. He has also held academic positions at several other universities throughout his career, including the New School for Social Research in New York City, the University of Minnesota, and the Beijing Institute of Technology in China.


It is possible that Hudson has given lectures or talks at universities in China as a visiting scholar or guest speaker, but I do not have any information indicating that he holds a regular teaching position at a Chinese university.

It is possible that some individuals or organizations in China may have consulted with Hudson or read his work, as he has been widely published and his ideas have gained a following among some scholars and policymakers around the world. However, I do not have any information indicating that Hudson holds any formal position as an economic consultant to China or the Chinese government.

The "Tiananmen Papers" is a book that is based on a collection of documents that were leaked from the Chinese government in 2001. The documents were said to have been smuggled out of China by a Communist Party official who was concerned about the government's handling of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

The Tiananmen Square protests were a series of pro-democracy demonstrations that took place in Beijing and other Chinese cities in the spring of 1989. The protests were led by students and intellectuals who were calling for greater political freedom and an end to corruption in the government. On June 4, 1989, the Chinese government declared martial law and sent troops and tanks into Beijing to forcibly clear the protesters from Tiananmen Square. The government's crackdown resulted in a violent confrontation that left hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people dead or injured.

The "Tiananmen Papers" includes a selection of documents that were said to have been circulated among senior leaders of the Chinese Communist Party in the aftermath of the protests. The documents provide insight into the government's decision-making process and the debates that took place among Chinese leaders in the weeks and months leading up to the crackdown. The book was edited by Andrew Nathan and Perry Link, two scholars of Chinese politics, and was published in 2001. The authenticity of the documents has been debated, but many experts consider them to be genuine.

It is true that China has relied heavily on domestic financing to fund its economic development since the 1970s, and that this has involved significant money printing by the government. One of the main ways that China has financed its development has been through government-controlled banks, which have lent large amounts of money to state-owned enterprises and local governments to support infrastructure projects, industrial development, and other economic initiatives.

China has also implemented various monetary and fiscal policies over the years to manage its economy and promote growth. For example, in the early 2000s, China maintained a fixed exchange rate with the US dollar, which required the central bank to buy large amounts of US dollars and issue yuan in exchange. This led to a significant increase in China's foreign exchange reserves, but also resulted in a large influx of yuan into the Chinese economy.

However, it is not accurate to say that China has not relied on foreign debt to fund its development. While China has generally been a net creditor in recent years, it has also borrowed significant amounts from international lenders, particularly in the early stages of its economic development. For example, in the 1980s and 1990s, China received large amounts of foreign aid and concessional loans from the World Bank and other multilateral institutions to support its economic reforms and development efforts. More recently, China has also become a major lender to other countries through its Belt and Road Initiative, which has involved significant financing of infrastructure projects in other parts of the world.

It's difficult to give a precise comparison of the amount of money that the United States and China have printed since 1970, as it would depend on a number of factors such as inflation rates, economic growth rates, and changes in the money supply. However, we can look at some broad trends and figures to get a sense of the scale of money printing in both countries.

Since the 1970s, both the United States and China have experienced significant growth in their money supply. In the United States, the M2 money supply (which includes cash, checking deposits, savings deposits, and other liquid assets) has increased from around $600 billion in 1970 to over $20 trillion in 2022. This represents a more than 30-fold increase in the money supply over this period.

In China, the growth in the money supply has been even more rapid, reflecting the country's transition from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented one. The broadest measure of China's money supply, known as M2+, has increased from around 100 billion yuan in 1978 (when China began its economic reforms) to over 223 trillion yuan in 2021. This represents an increase of over 2,000-fold over this period.

It's worth noting that these figures do not necessarily reflect the amount of money that the governments of the United States and China have printed, as the money supply is also influenced by factors such as bank lending and changes in interest rates. However, they do give a sense of the scale of money creation that has taken place in both countries over the past several decades.


The economic reforms:

The economic reforms that began in China in 1978 under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping were a major turning point in the country's economic development. Some of the key features of these reforms included:


  1. Decentralization of economic decision-making: The reforms aimed to shift power away from central planners and give more decision-making authority to local governments and market actors. This included the establishment of special economic zones in coastal areas, which were given greater autonomy to experiment with market-oriented policies.
  2. Agricultural liberalization: The government introduced policies to encourage farmers to produce more by allowing them to sell surplus crops in local markets and to keep profits from selling their produce above a quota. This helped to increase agricultural productivity and boost rural incomes.
  3. Industrial restructuring: The government encouraged the growth of non-state-owned enterprises and allowed existing state-owned enterprises to operate more independently. This led to the emergence of a private sector and a more diverse range of industrial activities.
  4. Opening to foreign trade and investment: The government began to encourage foreign investment and to open up the economy to international trade. This helped to bring in new technology and expertise, as well as providing access to new markets for Chinese exports.
  5. Price liberalization: The government gradually lifted controls on prices for many goods and services, allowing market forces to play a greater role in setting prices.


These reforms led to significant improvements in China's economic performance, including increased productivity, higher economic growth rates, and a reduction in poverty. However, they also created new challenges, including rising inequality and environmental degradation. Despite these challenges, the reforms laid the foundation for China's economic rise over the past several decades, and continue to shape the country's economic development strategy today.


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