Educational Media Reviews Online

This documentary is a compilation of seven reports on the Chinese economy by Paul Solman originally aired on PBS’s NewsHour with Jim Lehrer in October 2005. Individual reports are titled: China’s Growing Economy; The Chinese Consumer; The Cult of Mao Zedong; Misinvestment in China; Interview with Cheng Siwei; Piracy Explored; and Bumps in the Road? This is a comprehensive overview of the Chinese economy as of the summer of 2005, with a special emphasis on capturing the Chinese world view, the sense of how individual Chinese citizens view their place, and China’s place, in the world and the global economy. Regarding the influence of communism, Solman describes the Chinese economy as, “nominally communist, but now a totally free market with little government interference.”

The quality of the video is excellent as one expects from PBS and the distributor. It was a bit of a surprise to discover that the individual episodes were also freely available in streaming video from the Online NewsHour. As a teaching tool however, the seven episodes offer considerable background on the Chinese economy and a number of intriguing points to spark discussion. How long can China support a free economy without free investment if less than one third of publicly traded companies are worth an investment? What is the future of their financial institutions if China’s banks are technically insolvent? Is the country at risk if economic and social planning indicate a dramatic lack of support for the rural peasantry while an overinvestment in urban housing leaves apartment complexes vacant? What really is the long term effect of revaluation of the Yuan if the currency is not yet fully convertible?

China on the Rise will enhance business collections in academic and public libraries, and not just in the area of economics. Solman gives the viewer a lot of insights into the Chinese marketing psyche and the entrepreneurial exuberance that accompanies the current boom in the Chinese economy. It is recommended for support of curricula in economic globalization, import/export trade, international economics, international business and banking.