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Let's hope it's an industrializing force for African nations...

• ghaff 11y ago
  It hasn't so far--even prior to the rise of Chinese manufacturing--not sure why it would now. Part of the problem is that although a lot of Chinese manufacturing is obviously driven by low labor costs, there's also a stable and investment-friendly (if hardly democratic) government, a well-developed ecosystem around manufacturing, and capital. As the article says, I expect more automation and I'll probably bet more on further Pac Rim manufacturing than other areas.
  • alecco 11y ago
    Actually, the chinese are comfy bribing their way in african nations. And they are changing the continent quite fast. It's the unreported story of the decade. Check out this lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycHsaGOModU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycHsaGOModU
    • seanmcdirmid 11y ago
      Bribing a corrupt government doesn't make that government better for business in general. It doesn't create permanent change away from the status quo that would lead to more sustainable development, rather, China gets some minerals for cheap while a despot can buy more BMWs.
    • chipsy 11y ago
      I see Africa now like China in the late 80's or early 90's - the change is there, but the perceptions haven't shifted yet and anyone doing business there faces a situation of chaotic progress. A good place to be if you like extremes of risk/reward.
      • jpatokal 11y ago
        Except that "Africa" is way less coherent than China. There's not a lot in common for doing business in, say, Rwanda (notionally clean & business-friendly), Eritrea (autarchic dictatorship) and DR Congo (basically total chaos).