This much is certain: while China is not the only emerging market growth success story, it is without a doubt the most impressive one. What is considerably less certain, to the point of generating intense debates, is what exactly it is that enabled China to grow at such a remarkable pace. One of the top
Economic Sectors
18
Oct
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Medical Tourism in China: A Tale of Two Worlds
In a previous article, we have made it clear that China’s medical system (just like quite a few other sectors of the Chinese economy) is a textbook fragmentation case study. On the one hand, we have affluent regions (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, etc.) with Western-level medical services and on the other hand, poorer regions of China
16
Oct
Oct
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The (Subpar) Medical System of China: Problems, Threats and Opportunities
The medical system represents yet another case study involving a service which hasn’t exactly managed to keep up (in a directly proportionate manner, that is) with China’s explosive multi-decade economic growth… at least, not in a homogeneous manner. Of course, as pretty much always, it is possible to “cheat” by cherry-picking examples from affluent regions
14
Oct
Oct
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Law Enforcement in China: How Strict Is Too Strict?
The Chinese authorities frequently take pleasure in mentioning the fact that in China, crime rates are among the lowest in the world. On the one hand, we need to understand that more so than with other countries, official statistics should be taken with a grain of salt as far as China is concerned. It is
09
Oct
Oct
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Art and Antiques in China: Fascination, Wealth Preservation… or Both?
During the 70s and 80s, interest in arts and antiques from the China region came primarily from Hong Kong and Taiwan. However, as time passed and mainland China became and more prosperous, the tide turned. Or, to be more precise, while there is still quite a bit of interest originating from Hong Kong and Taiwan,
02
Oct
Oct
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(Financial) Fraud in China: How to Avoid Portfolio-Disrupting Scams
When it comes to financial crimes committed within China, the laws at least (even if the efficiency of the authorities with respect to applying them can sometimes be questionable) are very strict and as such, a valid case can be made that a strong legislative disincentive exists. But as far as laws that pertain to
23
Sep
Sep
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China’s Top 12 Insurance Companies – A Brief Overview
In an earlier article, we have made it clear why insurance is one of the best-positioned industries in China for a wide range of reasons, from demographic ones (the elephant in the room, perhaps) to smaller-scale variables. Re-addressing this issue would not constitute a proper use of our (limited) time, so we will limit ourselves
20
Sep
Sep
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A Glimpse into China’s Booming Insurance Industry
We have referred to a wide range of secular mega-trends here on ChinaFund.com, some of which can be considered… well, problematic, for example China’s aging population. However, even the challenging ones have quite a bit of upside, sometimes lifting entire industries. While the insurance industry of China has most definitely not been lifted by demographics
16
Sep
Sep
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Retiring in China… Are Retirees a (Financial) Force or Threat?
Those of you who are familiar with the United States demographic landscape know all too well how the “Baby Boomer” generation that consists of individuals who have either retired or are retiring is shaping the economy. Across the US, entire sectors are adapting to the present as well as future needs of the generation in
13
Sep
Sep
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China’s Luxury Goods Market: Facts vs. Misconceptions
Misunderstandings abound when it comes to all things China-related. For example, through previous ChinaFund.com articles, we’ve highlighted many manufacturing-related ones, for example the (grossly outdated) idea that China can only put low-quality, low value-added products on the table. Similar outdated stereotypical thinking examples also pertain to the Chinese consumer. To put it differently, China has