The Scale of China

The podcast episode explores China's economic and cultural scale, questioning how its sheer size influences its global role. Adam Tooze shares insights from his recent trip, emphasizing China's distinct regional cultures and the dominance of Mandarin. The discussion highlights China's rapid economic growth, exemplified by its massive electricity system and steel production, while also addressing the ongoing real estate transition and its impact. Shifting to a lighter note in the second half, the hosts dissect the economics of the movie "Jaws" on its 50th anniversary, examining the mayor's economic rationale for keeping beaches open despite the shark threat and the film's impact on Hollywood's blockbuster model. The conversation extends to the cultural metaphor of sharks as capitalists and the surprising business of shark tourism.