If you were to look at a history of global economics over the years, you would find that many countries achieve (and sometimes fall from) economic superpower status. Examples of such countries include the U.S, the U.K, and Japan. The most current countries to join that list are India and China. However, whether they stay that way has yet to be seen. The Elephant and the Dragon written by Robyn Meredith takes a look at both countries’ rise to economic superpower status, and how it affects us now as well as the future. To achieve this Meredith begins with a recent history of each of the countries by examining the political and social factors related to the each of the countries’ rise. This is followed with a look into some of the economic similarities and differences between India and China as well as how the reforms both countries have in place affect U.S businesses and citizens. Through this process Meredith truly gives a truly complete experience with past, present and future analyzed. Unfortunately, there are certain areas of the book where issues with the material and Meredith’s interpretation arise.
The first two chapters in The Elephant and the Dragon delve into the pasts of China and India, and the policies that made their growth possible.
Meredith begins her look into China by looking at the effects of Mao’s rule. A major point that is brought up is Mao’s policy to collectivize farming. The policy to collectivize farming resulted in a 40% drop in agricultural production and therefore a decline in the standard of living. The first of the positive economic reforms began taking place in the late 1970s with the rise of Deng Xiaoping. With his new position as leader of the communist party, Deng started dismantling many of his predecessor’s collectivist “reforms” and moving the Chinese economy from a planned economy to a market economy. He started moving on