Dana H.

Really Bad Banks: China’s Asset Management Companies

Interesting. Are China's IP protections equally weak whether or not the IP originates within China? I could imagine the authorities turning a blind eye to piracy of foreign goods, while enforcing some protection of IP developed domestically.

Really Bad Banks: China’s Asset Management Companies

Thank you very much for your detailed reply.

"I disagree with the concept of long term trends of freedom."

Just to clarify, I did not mean to imply that there is any driving force or historical necessity here. Rather, I was stating what (I think) is the empirical fact that the people in China today are more free, and as a result more prosperous, than they were, say, 20 years ago. And one question (which I'm not sure it's even possible to answer) is whether they'll be still more free 10 years hence.

I agree with you that the ruling party certainly does not want to give up power. And therein lies one of the country's contradictions. The leaders want prosperity, but they're only willing to go so far in implementing its legal and political preconditions. (On the other hand, they are adamant about NOT passing such wealth-destroying restrictions on freedom as a carbon tax, which puts them ahead of us in that regard.)

Really Bad Banks: China’s Asset Management Companies

Thanks for the very interesting article, and the comment, with which I agree completely. (It's nice to see someone who understands the link between political and economic freedom.)

In light of your article, what do you think of Peter Schiff's bullish position on China? As a non-expert, I see what appears to be a long-term trend of more freedom in that country. Yet it remains a dictatorship. With regard to Schiff, I respect and agree with much that he says about what ails this country. But I'm not so sure that the alternative investment locales he recommends are all that great.