“It is always dangerous to oversimplify a complex dynamic, but sometimes simplicity trumps complexity. Case in point: U.S.-China relations and a new book—Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future—that makes the bold claim that what sets the U.S. apart from China is that the latter is run by engineers, while the former is run by lawyers. To wit, over the past four decades, China’s engineers have built out a mega-infrastructure that took the U.S. nearly a century to construct. Meanwhile in the U.S., a culture of litigation and regulation has meant ongoing project delays. That said, things are hardly perfect in China, as evidenced by empty apartment buildings, decimated profit margins, and municipalities deep in debt. And delays aside, litigation has produced better living standards in the U.S. Looking forward, the best both parties could do is learn from each other: The U.S. needs to build more, while China needs to build better. Finding the right mix between engineers and lawyers.”
Morten W. Langer
