Economist Podcasts Unsustainable envelopment goals: China’s zero-covid fight
Jan 21, 2022
This discussion features Simon Cox, a China economics expert from The Economist, and Simon Speakman-Kordahl, who writes about the growing cycling movement in the Arab world. They dive into the challenges of China's zero-COVID policy amid the Omicron variant, revealing its toll on the economy and consumer confidence. Additionally, they explore the unexpected economic benefits of historical gulags in Russia and the rising popularity of cycling in the Arab region, linking it to transport efficiency and political activism.
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Wuhan Lockdown
- Two years ago, Wuhan, China's biggest city, went into sudden lockdown.
- This drastic measure, unheard of at the time, soon became a global phenomenon.
China's Zero-COVID Persistence
- While lockdowns are now rare globally, China persists with its zero-COVID strategy.
- This policy includes targeted but strict lockdowns and public examples of rule-breakers.
Omicron's Challenge to China
- China reports low COVID-19 cases, but remains highly sensitive to any infection.
- The Omicron variant's spread across several provinces and key cities poses a new challenge to their zero-COVID strategy.