Macro Voices MacroVoices #495 Louis-Vincent Gave: Understanding China's Structural Growth Drivers
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Aug 28, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, guest Louis-Vincent Gave, co-founder of the global macro research firm GaveKal, shares his deep insights into China's role in the global economy. He delves into China's impressive infrastructure ambitions and the hurdles it faces in attracting foreign capital. Gave contrasts the decision-making dynamics in China with those in the West, particularly in industries like electric vehicles. He also examines the disparity between China's economic growth and the performance of its equity markets, offering thought-provoking perspectives for investors.
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Subway As A Wealth Signal
- Louis jokes that the mark of a rich country is rich people riding the subway rather than owning cars.
- He uses Airport Express versus taxis to illustrate cultural differences in transport choices.
Visible Infrastructure Advantage
- China's public infrastructure quality is far superior to most Western cities and is visible to any first-time visitor.
- That superiority forces Western observers to ask how their countries fell behind and what policy lessons to learn.
Population Density Shapes Consumption
- China's dense population geography forces a different urban model where public transit dominates and car ownership is rare.
- That constraint explains consumption patterns, demographics, and policy outcomes across East Asia.