In addition to damaging health and biodiversity, environmental problems take a serious toll on China’s economic plans. In places where lakes and rivers have dried up, factories don’t have the energy necessary to operate. “You can see instances where they have put the brakes on [the economy] at least for periods of time,” says Economy. “There’s an enormous impact on industry, hydropower, and agriculture. Local economies have certainly changed because of what’s going on with the environment.”

Still, despite the many challenges China faces, there are few who believe the country’s economic expansion and reform will be derailed. For the most part, experts say, China has done an amazing job of making the right decisions at the right time. “The fact that their cities function well and their social and geographic groups have improved their condition is a miracle of management,” says Overholt. He actually likens China’s situation to a man being chased by a bear. To him, there’s only one way for China to continue to stay ahead of all its difficult challenges: to keep its economic growth brisk and continue the sometimes difficult process of reform.

“Here’s a guy running fast and being chased by a bear, and so far he’s staying ahead of the bear,” says Overholt. “But he had better keep running and running.”
American Airlines
There’s no need to take the slow boat to China: American Airlines flies nonstop to Shanghai from Chicago O’Hare, making the roughly 7,000-mile trip on a Boeing 777, our largest and most comfortable aircraft. We hope to see you onboard soon!

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