Random, Random 2.0

[ponchi101]

Uhm. I would offer China as a counter example.
China is totally centralized; the governments controls all levels of manufacturing and production. And yet, they do have innovative industries. For example, they are very, very good at electrical cars. BYD will sell you a car equivalent to a Tesla Model 3 for one third the prize.
They are currently the leaders in drone technology. Their smartphone industry is in par with Apple or Samsung.

One thing is: all their top leaders are engineers. Compare that to the USA, where almost all their leaders (except the clown on top) are lawyers. I say that counts for something too.

[ashkor87]

Uhm. I would offer China as a counter example.
China is totally centralized; the governments controls all levels of manufacturing and production. And yet, they do have innovative industries. For example, they are very, very good at electrical cars. BYD will sell you a car equivalent to a Tesla Model 3 for one third the prize.
They are currently the leaders in drone technology. Their smartphone industry is in par with Apple or Samsung.

One thing is: all their top leaders are engineers. Compare that to the USA, where almost all their leaders (except the clown on top) are lawyers. I say that counts for something too.

these Nobel Laureates actually comment on China and say it is not sustainable in the long run.. time will tell. China has the advantage of being a very homogenous society and a large one, a world in itself, where central control has been accepted for millenia.. so they do have some historical forces in their favor!

[ashkor87]

On China, there is a lovely story in Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel, where he relates the story of how China was actually the greatest sea power in the world, with the largest ships, had reached the coast of Africa - but because of a palace struggle, the Emeperor decreed that noone shall go to sea.. so they didnt ! and the Portuguese and British began to rule the waves.. If any Emperor had passed such a law in India, people would have smply laughed.. central control, when successful, can penalize you for millenia!

[Suliso]

India too was a rather closed society once upon time. Maybe that's why it got conquered rather easily.

As for China at a lower level they're very capitalist with an intense local competition. Far fiercer competition than anything known in the West.

[ti-amie]

I have to say I'm not surprised about the EV situation. I watched a C-drama called "The Rational Life" that was a rom-com on the surface but the plot was centered on the entry of the country into the electric vehicle market and how they went about it. I've seen them do this several times in their modern dramas. There's one on programming, there's one on chips, and there are several based on gaming. Their approach to business and instilling the necessary mind set takes place on all levels.

I think Suliso's comment is on the money, no pun intended.

[ponchi101]

And as soon as China curtails the export of rare earths and minerals, watch them dominate that market pretty soon.
The USA, Australia and countries like Argentina have to step up on exploration for those resources.

[ti-amie]

And as soon as China curtails the export of rare earths and minerals, watch them dominate that market pretty soon.
The USA, Australia and countries like Argentina have to step up on exploration for those resources.

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]

[ponchi101]

Lovely.
But do you want a bear in your backyard? uhm...

[ti-amie]