A quote from Understanding this Chinese Generation:

“Here is a serious issue to contemplate on. Most of the work you do are concerned with economic developments. This is a phenomenon common to both the East and West – everything is about the economy. I find it especially amusing that China is now putting all her energy on the economy. This is not the road to true prosperity. Historically China always subscribed to the doctrine that believes in having better culture and governance to resolve economic issues, to make even distribution of wealth and to maintain social stability. In the West, since the 16th century, the approach has been one attempting to resolve political and cultural issues by economic means alone, as expounded by the doctrines of Adam Smith, Karl Marx, John Keynes and their followers. These are two different approaches and one does not necessarily conflict with each other.

Ever since China subscribed to the Western doctrines, in particular the ideas of Keynes, the whole country is moving down the road of chasing money. Consumption is encouraged because it creates demand and employment. Therefore there is a good market for the management disciplines you teach. I always joked that the best way to accelerate consumption is to have wars everyday. War is the biggest of all consumptions.

What we lack today is a new school of thought that can assimilate both the Eastern and Western approaches in order to lead the world into a new era. If we continue the way it is there will be dire consequences.”

Related posts:

1. Read my lips: There are no jobs to stimulate