What brings Chinese companies to ASEAN? Hint: It is far more than a mere race to the bottom
During 2020 Q1, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) became China’s largest trading partner, surpassing both the EU and the US. Such rise in trade was partly due to lockdown measures adopted in the EU in an attempt to curb the spread of the pandemic, as well as part of a pre-existing trend to […]
China’s ‘Common Prosperity’ initiative and its potential economic impacts explained
In early 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a speech emphasizing the importance of ‘Common Prosperity’, setting this concept as a tone in policy making for the next few years. As a policy-guided and increasingly modernized country, China’s ‘Common Prosperity’ campaign gathers momentum and impacts all aspects of society almost instantly. What’s China’s ‘Common Prosperity’ […]
Cultural Opinion Leaders (COLs): The future of China’s KOL economy
As Li Jiaqi and Viya win the titles “king” and “queen” of this year’s Singles’ Day and fashion brands keep on collaborating with the same handful of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), China’s KOL economy is in flux. Gen-Z consumers looking for more authentic and deeper tastemakers are the main driver of change. KOLs’ standardized format […]
Checking the health of online clothing rental services in China
According to a report jointly released by Bain & Co. and the TMall Luxury Division, mainland China accounted for 20% of the world’s luxury industry last year and it is going to become the largest luxury market by 2025. Unlike the in the past, nowadays Chinese consumers’ reluctance to purchase pre-owned luxury clothing is gradually […]
Everything you need to know about crowdfunding in China
Crowdfunding in China started to develop relatively late compared to the global market: the market size peaked in 2016 with 48,467 successful campaigns in that year. Chinese crowdfunding models include investment-based, non-investment based and integrated crowdfunding. The investment-based crowdfunding model includes equity-based and property-based crowdfunding. Non-investment-based crowdfunding model includes reward-based and donation-based crowdfunding. How crowdfunding […]
Financial influencers in China: targeting Gen Z with stocks and digital currency advice
During the pandemic, millions of future financial analysts have been fully immersed in the world of investment. Recently a new generation of investors has been emerging on social media. The proliferation of commission-free online trading has sparked a demand for inexpensive financial advice that can be obtained from the most easily accessible place, namely the […]
China’s education crackdown: Disrupting the private tutoring sector
In mid 2021, the central government’s decision to suspend for-profit tutoring came as a shock to many. Besides provoking fundamental changes in the lives of children and parents, the ban of off-campus education services has destabilized many companies throughout China. Consequently, both families and the country’s education industry need to re-orientate after China’s education crackdown. […]
The fall of Evergrande: How the Chinese economy might be affected by the possible bankruptcy of this real-estate giant
Evergrande Real Estate Group was established in 1997 in Guangzhou, China. In 2016 it had more than 500 real estate projects in China in more than 180 cities, which made it the world’s largest real estate company. The group is also engaged in investment in sports parks, electric vehicles, and has stakes in food and […]
Why Beijing’s crackdown on the Chinese entertainment industry matters to global brands
The recent crackdown on the Chinese entertainment industry is just one in a series of restructured regulations China has enforced in 2021. Other industries affected by such changing policies under General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping’s ‘common prosperity’ campaign include gaming, private online education, and real estate. The recent crackdown on the […]
2021 becomes the year of crackdowns in China as the country’s tightening regulations spread through more spheres
In the second half of 2021, it seems almost every week we hear of a new crackdown in China, each of which impact a range of industries, throwing market dynamics for a loop. This article details some of the larger crackdowns and their impacts on the markets China’s crackdown on education for extra-curricular classes In […]
Autonomous driving in China: Shifting the car industry from products to services
The advent of autonomous driving in China has already provoked fundamental changes in the country’s automotive industry. For example, so-called robo-taxis are now commercially operating on Chinese streets in 2021. These vehicles drive fully autonomously, transporting passengers without human drivers. Autonomous vehicle (AV) sales in China are expected to exceed 33 million in 2040, approximately […]
China’s gig economy accounts for a quarter of its labor market: 3 gigs you probably never heard of
With 986 million mobile internet users and 853 million mobile payment users in 2021, China’s internet sector has created a breeding ground for the gig economy. It is estimated that there are about 200 million gig workers across the country, accounting for almost one fourth of China’s entire labor force. However, China’s thriving gig economy […]