Bankless Why China Builds Faster Than America & The Rest of the World | Dan Wang
9 snips
Oct 8, 2025 
Dan Wang, a technology analyst and author of Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future, delves into why China builds faster than the U.S. He contrasts China's 'engineers-in-charge' model with America's 'lawyerly' governance, discussing the impact on infrastructure and urban life. Dan debunks myths about China's economy, explores the country's wealth paths, and addresses misconceptions about censorship and social credit. He argues for an 'abundance agenda' in the U.S. to encourage more engineering while protecting rights, emphasizing coexistence between the two nations.
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Lawyers Versus Engineers Shape Societies
- Dan Wang contrasts U.S. 'lawyerly' elites with China's 'engineer' elites shaping governance and priorities.
- Engineers prioritize building infrastructure and large projects while lawyers prioritize blocking and protecting rights.
Infrastructure As Redistribution
- Wang argues China's state redirects resources into visible public goods as a redistribution method.
- This produces functional cities with superior transit and infrastructure compared with many U.S. metros.
China's Technocratic Career Ladder
- Wang describes China's clear ladder for political advancement from party recruitment in school to village postings then up the hierarchy.
- He contrasts this predictable technocratic path with the messier U.S. political ascent.
