China begins to suffer from growing pains as double-digit growth ebbs
Speculation over the possibility of a hard landing for the country flourishes with each boom and bust cycle, only to die down as China’s growth revs up again. This time, however, external and internal factors — including global economic conditions, domestic politics, and financial trends — are reinforcing the downturn. Many experts warn that, without painful reform, there will be worse trouble to come.
Still, opinions about just how far China’s economy will fall range widely. Also, exactly what constitutes a hard landing for a country that has until now been viewed as an almost unstoppable economic powerhouse varies from analyst to analyst, although most point to China’s growth rate as a key defining factor.
