World News Insights
1-3 Minute Gist
Search, personalize, or simply browse. Follow the world around you from gist and context to insights.
Who we are | Our Credo | Ways of using Lyrarc | FAQ | Send Feedback | First Letter From the Editor
Sign up. It's free and easy to use
Create an account
to personalize your feed of articles and topics.
All Topics Article
A Banking Paper Tiger
Keywords:
"China's Superbank," by Henry Sanderson and Michael Forsythe looks at the rise of China Development Bank to provide insights into the two decade real estate boom in China, and the trillions of dollars in loans made by state owned banks to finance China's state owned industries and infrastructure development. The authors say these loans based on land owned by the state, improved with roads and other infrastructure and then sold to industry, have helped finance China's urbanization and industrial development. But it has also created problems including eviction of farmers from the land by local government authorites increasing inequality, led to misallocation of capital on bad projects, and an unsustainable model of development focussed on state owned companies. A major side effect of this is not covered in the book. This is the impact of crowding out of credit for private industry in China, with privately owned business having to pay higher rates in the underground loan market or lacking financing. A major focus of the report "China: 2030" by the World Bank and China's official think tank Development Research Center is on reversing this development to come up with a sustainable development model. The report was supported by World Bank chief Zoellick and China's new prime minister Li Keqiang. "The Great Rebalancing," by Pettis, a finance professor at Beijing University, looks at the other side of the financing of China's boom- the low interest rates on savings for China's consumer. This reduces household incomes and reduces purchasing power as the interest rates are lower than the rate of inflation. Lower value of China's currency also reduces the purchasing power for China's consumers. Estimates show the low interest rates cost China's workers and consumers somewhere in the range of 3 to 8% of GDP annually in bank deposit income. This money is funnelled through the banking system to make more loans for infrastructure and growth at the state owned companies, concentrating exraordinary level of financing in one direction. As a result the consumption share of GDP in China has actually fallen in the two decades of hyper development. This is about 34% compared to 50-55% for other Asian economies.
China Development Bank
05/10/2012
Grouped Articles
Colombia, China Strike Oil Deals
Wall Street Journal 05/10/2012
China Adds Cash to Banking System to Spur Growth
Wall Street Journal 12/12/2014
Wall Street Journal 02/27/2013
China's banking system in 2010-2015
01/12/2010
The effects of the stimulus spending binge and speculative behaviours of local governments and state owned companies, on the loans made by state owned banks.
Grouped Articles
Asia Goes on a Debt Binge as Much of World Sobers Up
Wall Street Journal 05/24/2013
China's 'Shadow Banks' Fan Debt-Bubble Fears
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
China's Silver Linings Playbook
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
Wall Street Journal 06/25/2013
China Central Bank Warns Banks on Liquidity
Wall Street Journal 06/25/2013
Credit Warnings Offer World a Peek Into Chinaâs Secretive Banks
New York Times 06/24/2013
China Construction Bank
06/25/2011
Grouped Articles
China's 'Shadow Banks' Fan Debt-Bubble Fears
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
Temasek Sends Signal on China Bank Risk
Wall Street Journal 07/07/2011
Government's role in industry: The long arm of the state
Economist 06/25/2011
Problems Building for Chinese Banks - Reuters BreakingViews
New York Times 08/28/2011
Heavy Hand Moves China's Banks
Wall Street Journal 10/11/2011
Chinaâs Sovereign Wealth Fund Buys Shares in Major Banks
New York Times 10/10/2011
China's local government debt poses a risk for the economy
06/17/2010
China's local government debt is estimated to be in the range of 27% to 42% of GDP. Loans by banks to local government financing vehicles face high risk of default.
Grouped Articles
Asia Goes on a Debt Binge as Much of World Sobers Up
Wall Street Journal 05/24/2013
China's 'Shadow Banks' Fan Debt-Bubble Fears
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
China's Silver Linings Playbook
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
I.M.F. Tells China of Urgent Need for Economic Change
New York Times 07/17/2013
China's Credit Levels Echo U.S. Crisis
Wall Street Journal 09/08/2013
China Think Tank Offers Reform Wish List
Wall Street Journal 10/30/2013
China's Debt crisis
07/29/2010
The debt of local governments estimated at between 27% of GDP by Dragonomics and the China's National Audit Office, to a much larger 42% by Prof. Shih of Northwestern University.
Grouped Articles
Asia Goes on a Debt Binge as Much of World Sobers Up
Wall Street Journal 05/24/2013
China's 'Shadow Banks' Fan Debt-Bubble Fears
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
China's Silver Linings Playbook
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
Wall Street Journal 06/25/2013
Central Bankers Hone Tools to Pop Bubbles
Wall Street Journal 07/08/2013
Charlene Chu Is the 'Rock Star' of Chinese Debt Analysis
Wall Street Journal 08/22/2013
Martin Feldstein on China's efforts to control inflation, rising real estate prices, and shift its economy away from export led growth in 2011-2013
01/06/2010
Feldstein says China has the economic problems of inflation, the effects of the large stimulus after the 2008 global financial crisis, and overdependence on exports, under control. The new five year plan gradually shifts the economy towards greater reliance on services and a shift away from export led growth. The smaller stimulus of 2012 is being guided to necessary infrastructure such as power development and towards low income housing. China has still to tackle problems with an aging population and its one-child policy, inequality and corruption in government. These will be challenges facing the new government.
Grouped Articles
Global property markets: Boom and gloom
Economist 05/27/2013
New York Times 12/18/2011
Wall Street Journal 03/29/2010
China Inflation Rises to a 19-Month High
New York Times 06/11/2010
Compelling Signs the Chinese Property Boom Is Over
Wall Street Journal 03/19/2014
Chinese debt: The great hole of China
Economist 10/17/2014
The U.S., China, and 'Rebalancing' the World Economy
01/07/2010
'Rebalancing' is the idea that China will consumer more US goods and export less to the US, reducing the lopsided trade imbalance between the two countries. China's government continues its focus on exports and infrastructure in 2009-2011. China's banking system focusses on lending to state-owned companies and the system does not have the attitude, incentives or the mechanisms and experience to increase lending to consumers or small business. Experts say rebalancing is doubtful without serious changes in the banking system and government policy which are not likely.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 07/15/2013
New York Times 12/18/2011
Economist 03/31/2010
Fixing a Perception Gap for the Underappreciated G-20
Wall Street Journal 08/27/2013
US-China trade relations: Speak less softly, carry a stick
Economist 09/25/2010
Adidos and Hotwind? In China, Brands Evoke Foreign Names, Even if They’re Gibberish
New York Times 12/26/2014
China imbalances in runaway growth-corruption, pollution, overbuilding, misallocation
06/27/2005
Grouped Articles
Pollution Is Radically Changing Childhood in Chinaâs Cities
New York Times 04/22/2013
Wall Street Journal 06/06/2013
Air Pollution From Coal Use Cuts Lifespans in China, Study Shows
Wall Street Journal 07/09/2013
New York Times 07/30/2013
Bo Trial Gives Insight Into Life of Top Officials
Wall Street Journal 08/22/2013
Xi Faces Test Over China's Local Debt
Wall Street Journal 12/31/2013
China's future and the experience of Japan and Mexico
05/29/2010
China devotes 3% of GDP to education compared to 5% in developed countries. The underinvestment in education and human capital can lead to stagnation in per capita incomes. This happened in Mexico. The inability to deal with bad loans in the banking system can lead to slowing economic growth. This happened in Japan. The bulldozing of schools of migrant workers reflects a failure to address balanced growth and a breakdown in assigning the right priorities.
Grouped Articles
Mexico and China look to trade away old rivalry - The Washington Post
Washington Post 04/18/2013
China's 'Shadow Banks' Fan Debt-Bubble Fears
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
China's Silver Linings Playbook
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
U.S. Stocks Shrug at China's Woes
Wall Street Journal 07/10/2013
The Slowing of Two Economic Giants
New York Times 07/14/2013
Unrest May Signal New Phase in China Economy
New York Times 05/29/2010
Levels of U.S. imports and the rebalancing of the economies of the U.S. and China
12/11/2010
Grouped Articles
Cities Adapt With Mixed Results
Wall Street Journal 09/27/2011
Wall Street Journal 07/15/2013
New York Times 12/18/2011
U.S. Trade Gap Widens on Surging Imports
Wall Street Journal 05/06/2015
Dollar’s Rise Lifts Imports and Widens Trade Gap
New York Times 05/05/2015
Asian economies: Importing pessimism
Economist 12/11/2010
China's difficult political-economic choices in the post 2010 period.
01/06/2008
The difficult choices in the new environment- transition to a new leadership, how to change the export model without serious disruptions, how to deal with western demands for balanced global growth, dealing with the inequality and corruption generated in the kind of growth China experienced (by the fiat of the State), opening up freedom of expression to curb corruption and to provide representation for hitherto blocked out voices, transition to freedom of expression and democratic processes without serious disruption to thegrowth needed for employment and improvements in the standard of living across all parts of society and regions, reducing or channelling to constructive ends prevailing nationalistic, anti-western or anti-Japanese sentiment. The new leadership of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang is expected to be more outward looking than than of Hu Jintao and Wen Biao and comes at atime when China needs to make some difficult choices about future direction.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 07/01/2013
The Slowing of Two Economic Giants
New York Times 07/14/2013
Wall Street Journal 07/15/2013
How China Lost Its Mojo: One Town's Story
Wall Street Journal 09/16/2013
Chinaâs Economy, Back on Track
New York Times 10/04/2013
Xia Yeliang: The China Americans Don't See
Wall Street Journal 10/26/2013
Capital raised by China's banks 2010-2014
07/21/2011
Grouped Articles
Big Trouble at Little China Banks
Wall Street Journal 07/21/2011
Chinese Banks' Divided Capital
Wall Street Journal 10/31/2013
China Banks Keep the Fees Flowing
Wall Street Journal 12/27/2013
Wall Street Journal 08/18/2014
Profit Growth Is Slowing at China’s Biggest Banks
Wall Street Journal 10/30/2014
China Adds Cash to Banking System to Spur Growth
Wall Street Journal 12/12/2014
Bank of China
05/24/2006
Grouped Articles
Temasek Sends Signal on China Bank Risk
Wall Street Journal 07/07/2011
Bank of China I.P.O. Raises $9.7 Billion
New York Times 05/24/2006
Chinaâs Sovereign Wealth Fund Buys Shares in Major Banks
New York Times 10/10/2011
Wall Street Journal 02/21/2012
The Tip of the Iceberg for China's Banks
Wall Street Journal 08/25/2012
Wall Street Journal 02/27/2013
China- inflation, the currency, and economic mismanagement, the situation in 2010-2012
01/07/2010
Efforts to strengthen the currency are being resisted by export interests. Inflation is hurting consumers who are limited to earning 2.75% interest on savings, with the interest rate spread designed to help banks earn their way through bad loans made during the stimulus lending binge. A massive reallocation of resources away from consumers and towards lending to state-owned companies which create overcapacity in industries and engage in real estate speculation. Far from rebalancing the world economy this will affect internal growth in China.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 07/15/2013
China Inflation Rises to a 19-Month High
New York Times 06/11/2010
Wall Street Journal 09/04/2010
An Accord (and Lessons) to Remember
Wall Street Journal 09/21/2010
World Bank Deletes Critical Passage on China
Wall Street Journal 07/05/2015
New York Times 01/20/2011
Off-balance sheet shadow lending by Chinese banks.
01/12/2010
Even after the efforts to restrain lending in 2010 in China following heightened stimulus lending in 2009, the level of bank lending has exceeded 10.5 trillion yuan and is at the same level as 2009. This includes the lending through trusts and other mechanisms according to Fitch Ratings. This explains the inflationary pressures and property bubble.
Grouped Articles
Asia Goes on a Debt Binge as Much of World Sobers Up
Wall Street Journal 05/24/2013
China's 'Shadow Banks' Fan Debt-Bubble Fears
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
China's Silver Linings Playbook
Wall Street Journal 06/24/2013
Wall Street Journal 06/25/2013
China Central Bank Warns Banks on Liquidity
Wall Street Journal 06/25/2013
Credit Warnings Offer World a Peek Into Chinaâs Secretive Banks
New York Times 06/24/2013
Real estate speculation and land prices in China 2011-2014
09/26/2011
Grouped Articles
Global property markets: Boom and gloom
Economist 05/27/2013
Wall Street Journal 09/26/2011
Hard to Construct a Case for China Property Rebuild
Wall Street Journal 04/04/2014
Heavy Is the Crown for China's Land Kings
Wall Street Journal 11/25/2011
Land Dispute in China Town Sparks Revolt
Wall Street Journal 12/15/2011
New York Times 12/18/2011
China's real estate bubble and risks of a hard landing in 2012-2014
01/14/2010
Decline in housing prices in China and the impact on retail sales and the economy.
Grouped Articles
Global property markets: Boom and gloom
Economist 05/27/2013
China’s Economic Problems Unlike Those Elsewhere
New York Times 05/28/2013
Buyers Dodge Homeowner Limits in China
Wall Street Journal 07/03/2013
Central Bankers Hone Tools to Pop Bubbles
Wall Street Journal 07/08/2013
I.M.F. Tells China of Urgent Need for Economic Change
New York Times 07/17/2013
BusinessWeek 04/14/2010
Tom Orlik on wealth distribution in China and why increasing consumer spending would require higher incomes for the lower middle class and rural households
01/07/2010
Orlik cites a study by a Chinese university which shows 10% of the households has over 80% of the wealth, and over 50% of the households have little or no savings. This suggests that there is not much room to increase consumer spending on education, healthcare, and consumer goods for these households as incomes are too low. This may account for the insecurity felt by a large majority of households about the future. It also shows that rebalancing the global economy would require rebalancing within China, reducing inequality and improving incomes for the middle class to increase consumer spending.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 07/01/2013
The Slowing of Two Economic Giants
New York Times 07/14/2013
Wall Street Journal 07/15/2013
New York Times 12/18/2011
Survey in China Shows a Wide Gap in Income
New York Times 07/19/2013
Wall Street Journal 11/06/2013
Prof. Xuetong of Tsinghua University, calls for less inequality, social justice and balanced development in China
01/15/2011
Grouped Articles
Survey in China Shows a Wide Gap in Income
New York Times 07/19/2013
Wall Street Journal 11/06/2013
Hong Kong Wealth Gap on Display in Protests
New York Times 10/05/2014
Janet Yellen Warns of Inequality Threat
New York Times 10/17/2014
New York Times 11/20/2011
OECD report cites rising income inequality - The Washington Post
Washington Post 12/06/2011
Low interest rates as a tax on savers in China and Chinese households
03/07/2011
With higher inflation and low interest rates in China, Chinese households earn a negative interest rate on their savings. This does not help to rebalance the economy, or promote domestic consumption. Policies are vague about rates at the 2011 People's Congress.
Grouped Articles
Low Rates for Savers Are Reason for Complaint - Fair Game
New York Times 03/03/2012
Wall Street Journal 08/25/2015
Beijing Can't Have it Both Ways
Wall Street Journal 03/07/2011
China's Economy Faces Three Contradictions
Wall Street Journal 06/16/2011
Post-Stimulus: Who Pays for China's Bad Loans?
Wall Street Journal 06/23/2011
China Urged to Continue Reforms for Growth
New York Times 02/23/2012
China, Russia, and the search for or fear of pluralistic democracy, balanced development, and concern about corruption.
12/11/2007
The German book fair and other situations where China is faced with pluralistic options but fears them. And Medvedev's criticism and dialogue on the issues Russia faces in lack of pluralistic democracy and the need for the individual to play a bigger role in Russian life. The approaches in the two societies, problems and opportunities.
Grouped Articles
Washington Post 05/09/2013
Ex-Aide to Medvedev and Putin Out at Kremlin
New York Times 05/08/2013
Mayor's Rival Contests Moscow Vote Result
Wall Street Journal 09/09/2013
Xia Yeliang: The China Americans Don't See
Wall Street Journal 10/26/2013
Chinese Activists Challenge Beijing by Going to Dinner
Wall Street Journal 11/07/2013
New York Times 10/22/2010
We took a different way to help millions around the world build educated informed mindsets that affects and shapes their lives. For a future that is open, global and digital, with everyone having access to high quality information. We believe in the renewal of America, renewal of Europe, the renewal of India, the rest of Asia, Latin America and Africa. The renewal of our supply chains, health, education, infrastructure, as we rebuild our countries after the pandemic. Literacy and knowledge we believe cannot thrive and grow in a world of web bots, web crawlers, or AI. This requires human curiosity, human learning, and human imagination. We take as inspiration the saying- “One has to be free, and as broad as sky. One has to have a mind that is crystal clear, only then can truth shine in it.” Every contribution whether big or small is precious- in this crisis and ahead.
Support Lyrarc from as small as $1
Terms and Conditions | Copyright Policy | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
