5 ms·

I think western people see ghost cities as bad because for westerners, that's what happens when a city is shrinking and people are leaving, like Detroit. In the

I think western people see ghost cities as bad because for westerners, that's what happens when a city is shrinking and people are leaving, like Detroit. In these Chinese cities, it's just the other end of the process. The start of a city is when it's in the ghost phase and we don't recognize that difference. Building in anticipation of demand is a quite reasonable thing to do when demand grows so spectacularly fast. If the government was reactive and waited for private developers to build as needed, then there would be chronic overcrowding, homelessness, and even higher house prices. Like San Francisco, where the government is actively stifling growth and encouraging these problems.

ZeroGravitas 11y ago
Even the term "ghost" implies that they lived and then died, like the classic ghost town of the West, when these are more like infant cities.
Decade 11y ago
But it is bad for Westerners. The construction boom drives up the cost of steel and concrete for everyone, for example in San Francisco increasing the cost of material for the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge by 18% in a single year.[0] China's construction boom has been contributing to China's ability to buy Western debt and Western products, so when it all comes crashing down, it will be bad for your lifestyle. Also, it significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. We all pay the cost of China's construction boom, so it's rather disappointing when it isn't used for anything. [0]http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/10/from-250-million-to-65-billion-the-bay-bridge-cost-overrun/410254/ http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/10/from-250-million-to-...
ap22213 11y ago
It's definitely an interesting experiment. The conventional wisdom has been that governments cannot respond correctly and efficiently to economic demand. And, I think that's the real reason why most westerners raise an eyebrow. In some situations, it does seem to make sense for governments to step in and alter market forces. You see this in the U.S. in cases where there are inherent monopolistic factors, or when capital requirements are extreme, or risks are too high, or when market actors cannot coordinate quickly enough. But, who knows, maybe it will work out in China's favor. Personally, as an outsider, it seems really crazy what they're doing. I wouldn't want the government influencing where or how I should live. And, the scale of what they're doing is causing ripples in the rest of the economy.
- meric 11y ago
  I wouldn't want the government influencing where or how I should live. But they do, every where, with housing projects, rent controls and public housing and subsidies for home improvements, from the US to Singapore to Hong Kong.
  - ap22213 11y ago
    Sorry, not where I live.
    - meric 11y ago
      No zoning either?
- est 11y ago
  > that governments cannot respond correctly and efficiently to economic demand You don't understand, the big thing going on in China is land consolidation. Government is driving mass people to these ghost cities.

ZeroGravitas 11y ago

Even the term "ghost" implies that they lived and then died, like the classic ghost town of the West, when these are more like infant cities.

Decade 11y ago

But it is bad for Westerners. The construction boom drives up the cost of steel and concrete for everyone, for example in San Francisco increasing the cost of material for the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge by 18% in a single year.[0] China's construction boom has been contributing to China's ability to buy Western debt and Western products, so when it all comes crashing down, it will be bad for your lifestyle. Also, it significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. We all pay the cost of China's construction boom, so it's rather disappointing when it isn't used for anything. [0]http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/10/from-250-million-to-65-billion-the-bay-bridge-cost-overrun/410254/ http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/10/from-250-million-to-...

ap22213 11y ago

It's definitely an interesting experiment. The conventional wisdom has been that governments cannot respond correctly and efficiently to economic demand. And, I think that's the real reason why most westerners raise an eyebrow. In some situations, it does seem to make sense for governments to step in and alter market forces. You see this in the U.S. in cases where there are inherent monopolistic factors, or when capital requirements are extreme, or risks are too high, or when market actors cannot coordinate quickly enough. But, who knows, maybe it will work out in China's favor. Personally, as an outsider, it seems really crazy what they're doing. I wouldn't want the government influencing where or how I should live. And, the scale of what they're doing is causing ripples in the rest of the economy.

meric 11y ago
I wouldn't want the government influencing where or how I should live. But they do, every where, with housing projects, rent controls and public housing and subsidies for home improvements, from the US to Singapore to Hong Kong.
- ap22213 11y ago
  Sorry, not where I live.
  - meric 11y ago
    No zoning either?
est 11y ago
> that governments cannot respond correctly and efficiently to economic demand You don't understand, the big thing going on in China is land consolidation. Government is driving mass people to these ghost cities.