How China Went From Economic Superstar to Faltering Giant

The podcast explores the shifting perceptions of China's economic and technological prowess, particularly contrasting the optimism of 2020-2021 with the challenges of 2022. Ezra Klein interviews Dan Wang, a technology analyst, about his experiences in China and his evolving views on the nation's capabilities. Wang details how China's "can-do spirit" and effective pandemic response initially fostered a sense of optimism, but later crackdowns on tech companies, strict COVID policies, and alignment with Russia led to a more cautious outlook. The conversation covers China's industrial policy successes, such as dominating the solar industry, and failures, like struggling with semiconductor manufacturing. They also discuss the psychological impact of these shifts on the Chinese population and the concerns of foreign businesses operating in China.