Bold Names How the U.S. Stacks Up to China’s ‘Engineering State’
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Sep 19, 2025 
Dan Wang, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of Breakneck, delves into the contrasting dynamics between the U.S. and China. He introduces the idea of China as an 'engineering state' that rapidly builds infrastructure, while the U.S. is depicted as a 'lawyerly society' bogged down by regulations. The discussion highlights China's manufacturing strengths, including the successes of Shenzhen and high-speed rail, alongside America's declining manufacturing capabilities. Wang also explores the implications of these frameworks for future technological and geopolitical positioning.
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Century-Old Timetable Sparked The Thesis
- Dan Wang discovered a 1914 train timetable and realized modern commuter trains in the U.S. can be slower than a century ago.
- He used this commute observation to spark his critique of U.S. infrastructure lagging behind China.
Engineering State vs. Lawyerly Society
- Dan Wang frames China as an "engineering state" that prioritizes building and the U.S. as a "lawyerly society" that prioritizes rules and blocking.
- This framing replaces cold Cold War labels to explain each country's systemic pathologies.
Shenzhen As The Modern Detroit
- Dan Wang recounts why Apple and Foxconn chose Shenzhen and how it became the world's hardware capital.
- He compares Shenzhen to historic Detroit to illustrate concentrated manufacturing ecosystems driving innovation.
