China’s Wild Wild West: Exploring the Last Economic Frontier

The EconoclastsJohnPaul Bennett, Samantha Cunningham, Jeremy ReddickMentor: Dr. Richard “Moose” Mack

The Team

Where did we go?

Running through fountains on Friday nights

Tibetan monk on a motorcycle

Reconstructing a mountain CreativityDesertification

Breath-taking view of Qinghai Lake

The Terracotta Warriors

Getting Married

Creativity

From rich to poor…

…polluted air to blue skies

Beijing

China

Qinghai

Tibet

Xinjiang

Great Western Development Strategy

1 trillion RMB investment project

Delivered to the State Council by Jiang Zemin on June 13th, 1999

The GWDS is not articulated in any one paper.

General objectives: to attract investments develop comparative advantage industries raise rural living standards improve infrastructure improve educational attainment to protect the environment

The gaps in output and income measures between the Eastern and Western provinces have significantly narrowed since implementing the GWDS.

Income Levels

Increases in infrastructure investment in Western provinces have stimulated economic growth. Further increases in infrastructure would increase economic growth.

Infrastructure

Ethnicity

Different minority perspectives on interactions with the primarily Han government

China’s international position and eastern interests has resulted in ignorance of proper integration of all ethnic minority groups in western China

Education

Lack of qualified teachers

Embezzlement from governments

Poor enrollment of school aged children, especially among minorities

Cost of high school

River level 40 years ago

Village dump

River level today

Thank you for listening!

Questions?

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