The notion that China’s social credit scoring system will somehow eliminate bullying is amusing. Coercing people to behave socially, culturally and economically in accordance with some amorphous acceptable pattern, which can be varied at will, is a form of bullying in and of its self. It is a control tool with interesting possibilities.
And, it seems, it does work.
Besides promoting preferable social behavior the social credit system can be used, more effectively than propaganda, to promote changes in attitude and economic behavior. When coupled with China’s growing non cash economy, consumer decisions can be guided to achieve short terms and long term goals. If there was a shortage of pork the available supply could be rationed by market prices which would rise to lower demand. But as higher prices are unpopular, social stability would be enhanced lowering the social credit score of pork consumers. If banks require more deposits to support more loans then social credit could be used to promote greater savings. People can be motivated to read certain books, vacations to certain destinations, associate with certain foreigners or to avoid foreigners.
Jack Ma's Alibaba, Facebook, Twitter and Google have developed algorithms for analyzing online activities so as to create predictive models of behavior. A social credit score is the feedback loop to drive behavioral change and the monitoring never ends.
Free marketers like me insist central planning can’t work because the planners can never have the quantity and quality of information needed to succeed. While that gap may be narrowing, there is still a big leap from implementing control to effecting central planning.
The guy was 28 years old so his revenge waited for many years after he was bullied. Most of his victims were girls so I guess the poor guy was bullied by girls.
Pollution is an economic problem and pollution abatement is a cost of doing business. Unfortunately it is a current cost with long term or future benefits not readily measured.
I worked out a class participation exercise for Chinese business students in response to a demand I use a "game" while teaching Accounting. The exercise required students to collectively make decisions, as owners, for a fictional company. The inputs were company growth, sales, profits, pollution abatement costs, effects of pollution and compliance with regulation.
Over multiple classes, the company grows, sales and profits increase and the pollution byproduct increases, the effects of the pollution affects children and grows worse, the costs of abatement rise and eventually government regulations are added.
After running this exercise in 4th year and post grad classes for a total of six classes, I stopped.
Not once, no matter the horror the produced by the pollution was the cost abatement accepted. Profits and only profits was the driving metric. Even when I said "your own child" was getting sick the collective decision was to avoid abatement cost so profits could continue to increase. This was justified by moving the wife and kid away from the danger.
Today there is enough information on pollution to pretty much exclude ignorance as a cause. Pollution is the result of economic decisions. Full stop.
The article referenced above mentions environmental issues. Better the other guy's kid dies I guess. Troop movement is faster by train and cheaper if you can get the other guy to help pay for the tracks.
Pollution in China is a major problem but is considered a "bad news" topic with little official information.
As I would not knowingly consume GM foods, I consider them to be a form of pollution. More than 10 years ago there was a lot of talk about the promise of GMO foods in China.
I understand CMB also offered a 6.0% rate for 90 days.
I have trouble with the "protected" claim. The wealth management facility would have an underlying borrower who would need to repay the loan. Should that borrower belly up, the depositors would be screwed.
With the current legal maximum of 3.3% interest on deposits, the 5.5 or 6% is mighty attractive. What bothers me is the Chinese tendency to create and fund projects that are not economically viable. When bank funded projects go south, the government banks can roll the loans over to remove the NPL aspect and not affect the balance sheet. When non government owned banks use wealth management products they would entail higher risk. Hence the higher interest paid to depositors. Wealth management products are off the bank's balance sheet. If the underlying borrower defaults, the banks is isolated but the money is gone. I would think 90 days would be safe, but, I wouldn't touch a 12 month deal.
One message read: "China Merchants Bank will issue a high interest financing product starting from June 28th to 30th. The product will be 90 days with a 5.5% interest rate. Please call us now."
The Hani rice terraces are about 1,300 years old. In Yuanyang, much is made of the Hani inventing this method of agriculture. But the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines are supposed to be 2,000 years old. Terraced farming can be found in Peru as well which is supposed to be 3,000 years old. Sadly, I have come to believe China did not invent every thing.
There is a season to get the usual terrace photos. In early Spring, before the rice is planted is when you can get great reflections. The wonderful colors escaped me until I found out the colors are photoshoped.
Sunsets are great but problematic. The burning of old rice plants produces a haze which is impenetrable to your camera lens. You can make some improvements with contrast and light adjustments later but you will start with a poor image. Hope for a strong wind.
I had more luck with sun rise but less luck with the driver. First morning the driver insisted on breakfast so there were no sunrise shots. Leave the hotel at least one hour before sun rise. Photos at sunrise from Dou Yi Cun were pretty good. You need to get there and set up in the dark. Use a tripod due to low light. As the light constantly changes you need to take the same shot over and over (I have a 64GB card and just click away). Unfortunately, there will at least one guy who will decide you have picked the right spot and will kick your tripod many times.
At Dou Yi Cun, they have set up multiple positions for taking photos. This is quite good as it does get crowded in spite of having plenty of room. I would expect the tourists to increase now. Look for the local tourist map.
This is an extremely interesting building. I took quite a few photos of it in 2004. When the Bird and Flower market was being renovated I got past the barricades to take photos. I was really surprised to see this was one of the preserved buildings as the corner location would be great for a McD's, not!
Took several photos in April 2009 with the streets torn up around this grand building. I am glad to see it still standing. In Beijing, everything is laid to waste in the interest of money. At least Kunming is saving a bit of the past.
Be aware they will push whatever they are selling. Some of the staff have no idea about the technical side of appliances.
I went there to buy a stove. I repeatedly told them I would be using bottled gas. They sold me a stove. When I went to my local gas guy, I learned there are at least three kinds of gas sold. Luckily, B&Q did not deliver as promised. I went back to the store and discovered they had sold me a stove they needed to be hooked up to the gas main. I got my money back.
The sales lady was almost in tears, 没有问题！I don't know if it a safety or design issue, but I would think B&Q would know and care.
Subway starts at 9am. I have no idea where to catch an airport express bus. Eight taxis refused to go to the airport. After almost an hour standing on Beijing Lu took a black taxi, this dude drives slower than my mother, 120 yuan.
Flight back was delayed so I learned the subway stops running at 6:10pm.
Getting a taxi back was easy, more taxis than customers. Taxi was 87 yuan including 1o yuan toll, airport to Beichen area. Yes, he took a longer route than necessary.
Kunming imagines being a gateway for international travelers. New airport but hard to get to and from it.
Report: Yunnan bonds shaky
发布者I understand CMB also offered a 6.0% rate for 90 days.
I have trouble with the "protected" claim. The wealth management facility would have an underlying borrower who would need to repay the loan. Should that borrower belly up, the depositors would be screwed.
With the current legal maximum of 3.3% interest on deposits, the 5.5 or 6% is mighty attractive. What bothers me is the Chinese tendency to create and fund projects that are not economically viable. When bank funded projects go south, the government banks can roll the loans over to remove the NPL aspect and not affect the balance sheet. When non government owned banks use wealth management products they would entail higher risk. Hence the higher interest paid to depositors. Wealth management products are off the bank's balance sheet. If the underlying borrower defaults, the banks is isolated but the money is gone. I would think 90 days would be safe, but, I wouldn't touch a 12 month deal.
Report: Yunnan bonds shaky
发布者Tiger, from a New York Times article:
One message read: "China Merchants Bank will issue a high interest financing product starting from June 28th to 30th. The product will be 90 days with a 5.5% interest rate. Please call us now."
Hani terraces garner UNESCO status
发布者The Hani rice terraces are about 1,300 years old. In Yuanyang, much is made of the Hani inventing this method of agriculture. But the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines are supposed to be 2,000 years old. Terraced farming can be found in Peru as well which is supposed to be 3,000 years old. Sadly, I have come to believe China did not invent every thing.
Hani terraces garner UNESCO status
发布者There is a season to get the usual terrace photos. In early Spring, before the rice is planted is when you can get great reflections. The wonderful colors escaped me until I found out the colors are photoshoped.
Sunsets are great but problematic. The burning of old rice plants produces a haze which is impenetrable to your camera lens. You can make some improvements with contrast and light adjustments later but you will start with a poor image. Hope for a strong wind.
I had more luck with sun rise but less luck with the driver. First morning the driver insisted on breakfast so there were no sunrise shots. Leave the hotel at least one hour before sun rise. Photos at sunrise from Dou Yi Cun were pretty good. You need to get there and set up in the dark. Use a tripod due to low light. As the light constantly changes you need to take the same shot over and over (I have a 64GB card and just click away). Unfortunately, there will at least one guy who will decide you have picked the right spot and will kick your tripod many times.
At Dou Yi Cun, they have set up multiple positions for taking photos. This is quite good as it does get crowded in spite of having plenty of room. I would expect the tourists to increase now. Look for the local tourist map.
Fulintang: Yunnan's oldest apothecary
发布者This is an extremely interesting building. I took quite a few photos of it in 2004. When the Bird and Flower market was being renovated I got past the barricades to take photos. I was really surprised to see this was one of the preserved buildings as the corner location would be great for a McD's, not!
Took several photos in April 2009 with the streets torn up around this grand building. I am glad to see it still standing. In Beijing, everything is laid to waste in the interest of money. At least Kunming is saving a bit of the past.
不拆！