Professor Chris Rowley is a visiting fellow at Kellogg College, University of Oxford and professor emeritus, Bayes Business School, City, University of London. He is a leading figure in the study of employment and human resource management, and business and management in Asia.
The C919 is a sign of China’s ongoing transformation into a high-value and innovation-led economy. It also highlights China’s growing global competitiveness in hi-tech development.
While institutional factors, such as a nurturing ecosystem and government support, play a role in fostering innovative sectors, these businesses are risky by nature. China’s growth in these areas might be influenced by a cultural comfort with uncertainty.
The coronavirus outbreak has highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains. Service sectors, such as retail, hospitality and education, will be hit hard. Health care manufacturers, e-commerce and fintech, however, may benefit.
Leaders of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies must remember that globalisation is not inevitable and can be reversed, that there are many forms of capitalism and that the centre of gravity is shifting to Asia.
It is interesting and illustrative to look at the importance of this move in the context of its size, why it is happening and analyse any possible ‘Brexit effects’ and their impact on other businesses
Debate on whether the Chinese development model can and should be replicated is not new. Successful economic models, be it a company’s or country’s, have all been touted as the system to beat in their heyday.
Chris Rowley says the hunt for the city that will take over London’s mantle as the top global financial centre has been unduly focused on Europe, when Asia is the region to watch.