China - a key regulatory challenge for Europe

Other topics: financial crisis, General, Economic Policy

Catching up in emerging markets creates wealth in the West, but can also lead to dependency. The West must assert themselves economically in globalization if it wants to preserve its values. Therefore, a European business planning policy to cultivate political and economic competition. Otherwise, the path threatens to Serfdom.

China today and in 10 years

In recent days I have had interesting conversations with a friend who just interrupts his mission trip to Angola for a visit to Berlin. I could learn a lot about corruption, the cultivation of mined land and Chinese people in the resource-rich country are probably already ubiquitous. And they are not only in Angola. Chinese investors in Africa are on a shopping trip, looking for business opportunities in commodities and farmland. At such meetings to get quickly to the question of what role China will play in the future, and perhaps the more interesting question of what this will mean for Europe and the West.



In addition to other emerging countries like India, Brazil or South Africa, China is not only big, but also economically dynamic. Even today, the country's largest trading power and has huge foreign exchange reserves of 3.2 trillion U.S. dollars accumulated. The economic potential is used by the Chinese central government targeted. China expands its influence in the International Monetary Fund, the investment in research are considerable. This is particularly evident on the basis of the growing influence of cross-border direct investment. The Middle Kingdom is becoming increasingly popular as an investment location, the population is of foreign capital in China has grown since 1990 by a factor of 27th Chinese capital rapidly gaining influence in the world economy, Chinese investment in other countries since 1990 have grown by a factor of 66th A recent publication [1] of the renowned Peterson Institute shows in a carefully mounted scenario, the possible role of China in 2030. In today not even 10 years, China will generate 20 percent of world output, the U.S., only 15 percent. China will be by far the largest economy in the world. A Chinese person will earn while on average only half as much as an American, compared to today but eight times more. China will generate 15 percent of world trade, twice as much as the U.S.. The role of the yuan currency to trade and investment will be with the U.S. dollar on par [2].

Blessing and dependencies of globalization

Of course, neither the increases in productivity still rising exports from China are a direct threat to us. On the contrary. Germany in particular is benefiting from the productivity of China. Even today, we import more goods from China than from any other country. Consumers in Germany, save money with cheap imported products. Companies can improve their competitive position through cost intermediates from China. Chinese venture capital also creates jobs in Germany. The economic cooperation between China and Germany is a prime example for the blessings of globalization, the welfare gains from global division of labor are tremendous.

But if over time the performance of only one side increases, can be also a function of division of labor. Today, many Western countries are economically at the end. While China is hoarding 3.2 trillion U.S. dollars in currency reserves that grows in the West, the national debt. In Germany it is 73 percent of annual gross domestic product in the European Union at 74 percent, in the United States at 83 percent and in Japan even at 190 percent. With rising interest payments dwindle, the design possibilities of the states. Responsibility and political influence beyond promissory note for note in the hands of creditors. In Africa, the show already, for example, when passed in the wake of investments to close Taiwanese embassies. Yet China is in the West back with influence. That's good for the U.S., with about half of American IOUs is in Chinese hands. As soon as China begins to use its political power as an investor and trading partner, it can be a challenge for the Western world. Because there are very different notions of economic, civil rights and ethics. Let us think of the case, Stuttgart 21 Under Chinese conditions, the project would once have been politically intended, as "continuous" is probably simple.

With the increasing economic dependence on the West's political vision of a free society is increasingly less able to implement. The chances are not improved but also that we are on a collision course or isolate us protectionist. On the contrary, peaceful economic cooperation is beneficial to both sides. If we want to shape the world in globalization, according to our values, but we need to focus on our strengths and play them in the context of the global transport logistics division of labor. As an economically independent force with its own core competencies, we can be useful for others and promote our ideas. But what are Europe's strengths, characteristics which have brought civilization to the West Front?

What exactly is the West?

Friedrich August von Hayek describes the development of governmental and societal structures in his theory of cultural evolution. Bad rules has sifted out the story at some point, good laws and traditions passed down and preserved. Because only the good times over the lives, laws and traditions, the experience of past generations is stored. This wealth of knowledge of our civilization consists not only of the legal system, it includes religion, philosophy, art, etiquette and so on. In his book "What is the West?" [3] singles out the French philosopher Philippe Nemo central elements of our culture, which he blames for the rise of the West in recent centuries. He tries to identify the intellectual core of the West. Nemo leads firstly to the achievements of ancient Greece, particularly the equality and freedom of citizens under the law. Second, he cites the development of privacy law by the Romans, so that freedom was possible in a multiethnic state. Third, he describes as an essential element of the West of Christian ethics and medical history. Fourth, he discusses the papal revolution of the thirteenth century, through the knowledge of antiquity in the modern state was transported. The fifth structural element of Western civilization is for Nemo liberalism with democracy as a political expression and the market economy with home loans in the economic field. At the core of this it was necessary to remember that if Europe wanted the challenges of globalization.

Hayek and Nemo point to the success of Europe. Europe is characterized historically by free people who are connected before the law and by common values. In contrast to a hierarchically organized society promotes individual freedom, the liberation of the human intellectual capital. The competition forces the individual to have to worry about how he can solve problems of others. Competition and challenge the individual pursuit of profit in the process, the best of his own person, to make his own knowledge and skills. This ability to use the "cognitive capital" of the people is central to Hayek's thinking about the market economy. The result is a learning organization in which intelligence and personality of people best use for the public good. Such a functioning economy and society is innovative and productive and has a firm place in globalization. Freedom and competition must be cultivated but politically. It is also possible in the globalization, the political will is necessary.

Recipe for success in Europe: Competition

Politicians are people, just like entrepreneurs. Also, they direct their actions are not automatically on the interests of customers (citizens) from, but are driven by competition. What is special about the history of Europe is that over the centuries countless countries were competing for citizens and capital. States, which could offer its citizens in return for their taxes, nothing would go broke, were absorbed or overwhelmed. Capital has always been mobile, and for the citizens used to be a change in the country often easier than today. Thus arose in Europe during the cultural evolution complex and powerful states. Requirement for non-violent competition between the states and to human capital was the bond of common values ​​and common faith. Especially the 30-year war and the war showed the dramatic consequences of a loss of this "informal framework."

Competition is the recipe for success in Europe. The competition in markets is based on our innovative power, the political competition, the foundation of our adaptability and diversity. The competition also requires a bond of the fathers of European unification have recognized and fought for the European treaties. This was initially to increase competitiveness, such as free trade, free capital mobility and free movement of workers. But more and more European policy goes in the opposite direction! Then it prevents economic and political competition. An example is the tax harmonization, it freed from political pressure to shape their policy cost. Of the political opportunities of such a "Einebnungspolitik" to the citizens of the same innovation and dedication is to be expected as of the factories of the GDR Sachsenring. A European policy that will continue the successful history of Europe has to rely on diversity and competition and not to unify, central planning and redistribution of risk and finance.

Competition or the road to serfdom

Given the huge problems in the wake of the crisis, the temptation is great for politicians, not to rely on the process of open competition. It seems much easier to make by acting together the "great success". Especially as China has turned up with a competitor on the stage of world history, which is even on the big throws. But the situation today has a historic match, we can learn from. End of the '30s built the centrally planned Soviet forces from Germany and its global political influence. Rapidly in the West were loud cries for more centralization. For Hayek, the caller has his book "The Road to Serfdom" [4] written and warned against centralization. Centralization was not sustainable, the West should hold to the liberal social order. Hayek was ostracized as a backward-looking "neoliberal", but history has given him right.

Even today it is tempting to pool collective forces to gain strength and with an economically integrated Europe together. Right at this reflex is that Europe is not just vital for Germany, but also for our values as mineral manganese buyers. Therefore must be visible for all the world that Europe stands together. But the bond that we call integration must ultimately be aimed at bringing the actual strength of Europe to bear: individual freedom, performance, competition and diversity. With these strengths, Europe can compete in globalization. A Europe that wants to shirk competition is, perhaps overcome some challenges of the day. But it is now positioned to the beginning of the road to serfdom. At the end of this road would certainly not be the downfall, but perhaps the revelation of what Europe's success has been identified. In Angola, you can probably already get an impression of the individual stages of this journey.