China's Growth Numbers: The Art of Economic Theatre
275 sats \ 6 comments \ @TomK 10h econ
A dive into China's latest economic performance reveals an intricate dance of numbers and narratives. The Caixin/S&P Global Services PMI jumped to 52.0 in October - but what's really behind these suspiciously precise figures?
While Premier Li Qiang confidently projects hitting the magical 5% growth target, the reality appears more complex. The recent economic "achievement" comes courtesy of a triple play: data finessing, aggressive stimulus injections, and monetary expansion that would make a money printer blush.
The Communist Party's playbook remains consistent: craft a narrative where economic growth appears as predictable as a well-rehearsed performance. October's service sector "improvement" follows this familiar script - right on cue after September's stimulus encore.
Key patterns to watch:
  • Convenient PMI rises post-stimulus
  • State-guided "market responses"
  • Perfectly aligned growth projections
  • Strategic data timing
Reality check: When every economic target gets hit with Swiss-watch precision, it might be time to question the clockmaker.
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47 sats \ 2 replies \ @stack_harder 8h
the clockmaker is heading straight to the gulag
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @TomK OP 7h
Or facing the fate of the 'tank man'...
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 5h
It is true- the CCP know that without consistent economic growth and the belief in an ever brighter future they are at real risk of removal. The Mandate of Heaven is perhaps a more efficacious form of governmental incentive that liberal western democracies increasingly farcical 'elections'. In the wests democratic theatrics the corporate sponsors are almost always in charge of which ever political party is nominally elected into power. In China the government still directs capital. In the west capital, has for decades, directed your government.
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47 sats \ 0 replies \ @Satosora 10h
Data manipulation always seems to work. Until it doesnt and they need to keep putting money in.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 5h
Fair comment regarding the choreography that undoubtedly goes on from the CCP but nevertheless they Have Won The Trade War. the US and EU are freaking that their automotive sectors cannot compete with the Chinese EVs and they are right. Watch the 'free market capitalist' west slap on punitive trade obstructing inflation fueling market distorting tariffs...just like so often happens as we approach war- or in this case, where we are already engaged in multiple proxy wars with China. China has had decades of substantial trade surpluses- compared to the wests decades of trade deficits. BRICS Pay is the Chinese CBDC e-Yuan forming the base protocol for a major challenge to USD hegemony. Putin is fronting it for his master, Xi.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @xiaohong520tyz 8h outlawed
stackers have outlawed this. turn on wild west mode in your /settings to see outlawed content.