S8 Ep734: 4. The COVID-19 pandemic and severe lockdowns shattered public trust, triggering economic deflation and a burst real estate bubble. Municipalities now face extreme debt distress, leaving them unable to pay workers. Xi Jinping has prioritized surveillance
S8 Ep734: 3. The 21st century saw massive cash infusions creating “ghost cities” and excessive infrastructure. China’s cement consumption and loan volume surpassed historic US benchmarks while billionaires like Jack Ma were suppressed. The Belt and Road Initiative
S8 Ep734: 2. Post-Tiananmen, China embraced “red capitalism,” where “princelings”—children of political leaders—controlled investment nodes and equity. The party launched “golden projects” for surveillance while managing the 1998 crisis by recapitalizing banks thro
S8 Ep734: 1. Anne Stevenson-Yang recounts China’s transition from a poverty-stricken Maoist culture to an export-driven economy. Deng Xiaoping initiated this shift to acquire hard currency, establishing Special Economic Zones like Shenzhen. This era birthed an elit
S8 Ep733: 4. Guest Author: Eric J. Dolin. After their eventual rescue, Barnard regretfully leaves his dog, Scent, with a British captain for a better life. Returning to New York bankrupt, Barnard and the ship’s owners successfully appeal the seizure of the *Nanina*
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