Few countries with per head incomes of more than $10,000 a year survives as autocratic/authoritarian/totalitarian nations except for oil exporters. Charles Robertson of Renaissance Capital boldly predicts China could be a democracy by 2017:

China, on about $7,500 and growing fast, is approaching the income level when democratic change often begins. There are powerful arguments about why both countries might be permanent exceptions to the democracy rule.

The economic boom and the subsequent double-digit GDP growth achieved by some of the world’s emerging economies, such as Brazil, India and China, have led many to believe that poverty, inequality and other associated issues could be eliminated even without government intervention or active participation. But a new report by ActionAid, a UK based charity organization, is somewhat startling and to some extent unexpected. In the report, released to coincide with UN World Food Day, ActionAid has listed a number of developed, less developed and developing countries based the efficiency of their programs initiated to give legal, constitutional and social protection to those who need them the most. (more…)

Superpower China – Miracle or nightmare by Flemming Ytzen (2008) Politikens Forlag. Book design by Kenneth Schultz.
More info at: http://www.supermagtenkina.dk/

Shanghai cityscape photography. Shanghai is the largest city by population of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities of the PRC, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010. Following rapid development over the last two decades it has become a global city, with influence in commerce, culture, finance, media, fashion, technology and transport. It is a major financial center and the busiest container port in the world.