In the “free world” we’re taught (indoctrinated?) that State managed economics are a very bad thing, but China seems to have figured it out. Just my perspective.
That is because in the "free world" you were taught (indoctrinated) that China is a State managed economy,
which it is not.
It
was so briefly in the Mao period, ending in economic failure. They recognized the mistake and switched gears with the rise of Deng Xiaoping. That was more than fifty years ago..
At the risk of touching politics:
Think of China as a massive holding corporation with the massive membership of CCP as its shareholders.
. The amount of regulation in China is adjusted
based on the principal if minimal interference required as a strategic policy. That is why they often have big problems with low-quality stuff like businesses cheating, making toxic stuff etc., their regulation is mostly reactive, not proactive. That is not a weakness but a strength in their view. Chinese understand the dangers of over-regulation and rigidity all too well from their history. Their civilization burned by thus several times over the millennia.
. The Holding's top management
is voted-in based on competence and results and *does not* intervene outside strategic direction making. It mostly leaves the subsidiaries to compete with themselves. It also allows and prods independent citizens to form enterprises and prosper as long as they do not threaten the Holding.
Think of the Holding shareholders, the CCP members, as of the Uniparty in the US. The CCP is where the debate happens so it does not appear /much/ in the public. CCP is heavily hierarchical
and decentralized at the same time. Most decisions are not ideological. "I care not for the fur color of the cat which catches mice", is a phrase that describes its "ideology" well. These folks are a ruthlessly rational bunch to a fault.
Think of the US as massive holding corporation with the "uniparty" sponsors as its shareholders
while maintaining an illusion of self-governance.
. The amount of regulation in US is adjusted based on the interest of the shareholders, the principle of minimal interference is mostly not applies and often proactive regulation is applied for political gains. This helps with safety in general yet destroys innovation at scale in many areas.*)
. The Holding top management *does not* intervene outside strategic direction making. While it has few direct subsidiaries, its sponsors and shareholders own a big chunk of the economy. It also allows and prods independent citizens to form enterprises and prosper as long as they do not threaten the
Holding sponsors and shareholders.
The notion that China is more socialist or more centrally planned than the US is a falsity. It is not. There are areas of life and business which
are way more regulated in China /and it depends on province/ than in the US /again depends on state/. And there are areas of life and business which are
way more regulated in US than in China, again depending on state/province.
Both countries are a hybrid system with their own aspects of socialism, capitalism, mercantilism, feudalism, democratic aspects and a good chunk of nepotism thrown in. One cannot "bracket" them flatly unless discussing a specific issue/area in a specific province/state.
To add an insult to an injury:
Of the three leading powers, Russia is the least regulated of them all. The "Wild West" of the world of today. If we include India, they would be the least regulated though they have strict informal cultural structures. If we add the EU, it would be easily the most regulated. Japan needs not apply, they just "do their own thing".
I will not be justifying .. take for what it is worth.