Leaders | Confidence trap

China’s economic recovery is spluttering. The prognosis is not good

There are lessons from Japan’s long stagnation

Residential buildings under construction in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China
Image: Getty Images

When the Chinese government abruptly abandoned its zero-covid policy at the end of 2022, all bets were on a rapid economic rebound. After nearly three years of restrictions, the world’s second-largest economy would, the thinking went, come roaring back.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Confidence trap ”

From the June 24th 2023 edition

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