China Is Run by Engineers. America Is Run by Lawyers
6 hours ago
- #engineering state
- #lawyerly society
- #China-US relations
- Stephen Dubner introduces the episode by asking for physician input on the U.S. doctor shortage and announces a live Freakonomics Radio taping in New York City.
- Dan Wang, author of 'Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future,' discusses the similarities and differences between the U.S. and China, highlighting China as an 'engineering state' and the U.S. as a 'lawyerly society.'
- Wang shares his personal background, including his immigration from China to Canada and then the U.S., his return to China for work, and his experiences during China's 'Zero Covid' policy.
- The conversation explores the downsides of China's engineering state, such as social engineering and human rights issues, and the downsides of the U.S.'s lawyerly society, including inefficiency in infrastructure projects and political dysfunction.
- Wang argues that the U.S. could benefit from adopting some aspects of China's engineering mindset, particularly in infrastructure and manufacturing, while also criticizing China's handling of pollution and social policies.
- The discussion touches on intellectual property theft, technological advancements, and the dynamic nature of process knowledge in manufacturing.
- Wang reflects on the potential future of U.S.-China relations, the role of economists in governance, and the differing perceptions of China among expats and those living in China.
- The episode concludes with Wang's thoughts on where he might raise future children, favoring the dynamism of the U.S. and China over Europe's 'mausoleum economy.'