The Freakonomics Radio Book Club

28. China Is Run by Engineers. America Is Run by Lawyers.

Sep 29, 2025
Dan Wang, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of "Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future," discusses the fascinating contrast between China’s engineering-driven society and the U.S.'s lawyer-centric governance. He delves into China's ambitious infrastructure projects, the impacts of zero COVID, and how American proceduralism hinders innovation. Wang argues that understanding Chinese strategies can inspire U.S. reforms and emphasizes the importance of recognizing both nations' shared traits despite their differences.
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INSIGHT

Engineering State Vs Lawyerly Society

  • Dan Wang frames China as an "engineering state" that prioritizes large-scale building and technical problem-solving.
  • He contrasts this with the U.S. as a "lawyerly society" that emphasizes blocking and procedural restraint.
ANECDOTE

Censored Website And The Anaconda Metaphor

  • Wang describes being flagged by Chinese censors when his website was banned in 2022 and seeking guidance from the Canadian consul.
  • He recounts uncertainty about whether the ban was algorithmic and his choice to continue writing without self-censoring.
ANECDOTE

Living Through Zero-COVID

  • Dan Wang recounts living in China throughout zero-COVID from early 2020 to late 2022 and describes three phases: anger, containment, then brutal lockdowns.
  • He recalls the Shanghai lockdown and how the government eventually abruptly abandoned zero-COVID, causing large waves of illness.
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