another deeply fascinating account of the changes in a city. having been to those villages settled into the cliff face along the Yangzi before the dam was built, and climbed the muddy banks to wander through them (and perhaps eat fish) it's fascinating to see how Wanzhou has modernised by reviving its cultural base. I do wish that Grandma Lin and family, and other poor villagers whose lands sold for a pittance, hadn't been so disenfranchised, though.
Again, this is wonderful to read and fascinating. I wonder if you can comment on how the "ownership" of all this played out? People's wages are going up--but who is paying the wages? Items are being exported, but in who's bank accounts are the profits deposited? Patents are owned--by whom? The overall impression is that it is the city of Wanzhou, itself, that is the owner as a socialist singularity? If so, have you any thoughts how these ideas could be applied to a market economy of small business owners? Something is clearly achieved when the State is operating at such a high level of competence and achievement--but is something lost when everyone becomes a state employee?
Fantastic questions that cut to the tension at the heart of Wanzhou’s model. Let me unpack the ownership piece, because it’s more hybrid than it appears:
Profit Distribution:
The Grilled Fish Industrial Complex operates as a public-private consortium. The city owns key infrastructure (ponds, caves, Academy), but 62% of businesses are worker co-ops or private franchises (Wanzhou Commerce Bureau, 2023).
Example: Spice farmers own their chilli plots but must sell to the city’s ageing facilities (which take a 15% fee).
Patent Control:
Critical IP (like the citrus-feed formula) is held by the Grill Master Academy (a state entity), but licensed royalty free to local co-ops. Export patents (e.g., grill designs) generate revenue shared via municipal dividends.
Wage Paradox:
Yes, most workers are technically state-employed, but with profit-sharing: ‘Flame Artists’ earn ¥5,800 base + up to ¥7,000 in export bonuses.
Where This Gets Tricky for Market Economies:
The ‘secret sauce’ is Wanzhou’s monopsony system the city is the sole buyer/brander of key inputs (fish, spices, coal). Small businesses can thrive if they plug into this pipeline. Detroit couldn’t replicate this without a similar central orchestrator.
One Adaptation Path:
Imagine a ‘Wanzhou Lite’ model where:
Cities provide IP/standards (like the grill patents)
Incredible story and images. I am in awe of how much I'm learning from you about China. Keep bringing the stories.
Thanks so much for your kind words. Am learning too. Each week I get to see a different side of China
another deeply fascinating account of the changes in a city. having been to those villages settled into the cliff face along the Yangzi before the dam was built, and climbed the muddy banks to wander through them (and perhaps eat fish) it's fascinating to see how Wanzhou has modernised by reviving its cultural base. I do wish that Grandma Lin and family, and other poor villagers whose lands sold for a pittance, hadn't been so disenfranchised, though.
Wow thats so nice, i guess it was a totally different city then. So much has happened since then
Again, this is wonderful to read and fascinating. I wonder if you can comment on how the "ownership" of all this played out? People's wages are going up--but who is paying the wages? Items are being exported, but in who's bank accounts are the profits deposited? Patents are owned--by whom? The overall impression is that it is the city of Wanzhou, itself, that is the owner as a socialist singularity? If so, have you any thoughts how these ideas could be applied to a market economy of small business owners? Something is clearly achieved when the State is operating at such a high level of competence and achievement--but is something lost when everyone becomes a state employee?
Fantastic questions that cut to the tension at the heart of Wanzhou’s model. Let me unpack the ownership piece, because it’s more hybrid than it appears:
Profit Distribution:
The Grilled Fish Industrial Complex operates as a public-private consortium. The city owns key infrastructure (ponds, caves, Academy), but 62% of businesses are worker co-ops or private franchises (Wanzhou Commerce Bureau, 2023).
Example: Spice farmers own their chilli plots but must sell to the city’s ageing facilities (which take a 15% fee).
Patent Control:
Critical IP (like the citrus-feed formula) is held by the Grill Master Academy (a state entity), but licensed royalty free to local co-ops. Export patents (e.g., grill designs) generate revenue shared via municipal dividends.
Wage Paradox:
Yes, most workers are technically state-employed, but with profit-sharing: ‘Flame Artists’ earn ¥5,800 base + up to ¥7,000 in export bonuses.
Where This Gets Tricky for Market Economies:
The ‘secret sauce’ is Wanzhou’s monopsony system the city is the sole buyer/brander of key inputs (fish, spices, coal). Small businesses can thrive if they plug into this pipeline. Detroit couldn’t replicate this without a similar central orchestrator.
One Adaptation Path:
Imagine a ‘Wanzhou Lite’ model where:
Cities provide IP/standards (like the grill patents)
Worker co-ops own production
Export profits are taxed into reinvestment