Good piece by Economy on China

ARTICLE: The Great Leap Backward?, By Elizabeth C. Economy, Foreign Affairs, September/October 2007

Good piece. Economy's been writing on this subject for a while, and has it down solid.

Thanks to Eric Osmer for sending this.

Comments

[Joe Blizzard]

ECE: "In the view of China's leaders, however, damage to the environment itself is a secondary problem. Of greater concern to them are its indirect effects: the threat it poses to the continuation of the Chinese economic miracle and to public health, social stability, and the country's international reputation."

If those are secondary and indirect, what does she think they ought to be concerned about? What sort of damage *wouldn't* affect the public's wealth, health, and happiness?