China’s Wild Wild West: Exploring the Last Economic Frontier The Econoclasts JohnPaul Bennett, Samantha Cunningham, Jeremy Reddick Mentor: Dr. Richard “Moose” Mack
Feb 24, 2016
China’s Wild Wild West: Exploring the Last Economic Frontier
The EconoclastsJohnPaul Bennett, Samantha Cunningham, Jeremy ReddickMentor: Dr. Richard “Moose” Mack
The Team
Where did we go?
Running through fountains on Friday nights
Tibetan monk on a motorcycle
Reconstructing a mountain CreativityDesertification
Breath-taking view of Qinghai Lake
The Terracotta Warriors
Getting Married
Creativity
From rich to poor…
…polluted air to blue skies
Beijing
China
Qinghai
Tibet
Xinjiang
Great Western Development Strategy
1 trillion RMB investment project
Delivered to the State Council by Jiang Zemin on June 13th, 1999
The GWDS is not articulated in any one paper.
General objectives: to attract investments develop comparative advantage industries raise rural living standards improve infrastructure improve educational attainment to protect the environment
The gaps in output and income measures between the Eastern and Western provinces have significantly narrowed since implementing the GWDS.
Income Levels
Increases in infrastructure investment in Western provinces have stimulated economic growth. Further increases in infrastructure would increase economic growth.
Infrastructure
Ethnicity
Different minority perspectives on interactions with the primarily Han government
China’s international position and eastern interests has resulted in ignorance of proper integration of all ethnic minority groups in western China
Education
Lack of qualified teachers
Embezzlement from governments
Poor enrollment of school aged children, especially among minorities
Cost of high school
River level 40 years ago
Village dump
River level today
Thank you for listening!
Questions?