Exploring China's Economic Success: Institutional Strengths and Limitations

What’s driving China’s economic dominance — and what does it mean for the world? 

In this episode, host Adam Dixon is joined by Dr. Jostein Hauge, an expert on industrial policy and global development, to dissect the forces behind China’s rapid economic rise.

From state-led industrial strategies to market competition under strict state control, we explore how China is reshaping global manufacturing, innovation, and geopolitics. 

Key themes: 

• How China became the world’s top manufacturing power 

• The role of industrial policy and internal market competition 

• Why global perceptions of China differ across regions 

• The myths and realities behind the “China threat” narrative 

• What China’s economic model means for global competition, innovation systems, and Western welfare states