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China's economic challenge

China has faced choppy economic waters before, but with record high-levels of debt, does it have the resources to shore up firms, banks and even its local governments?

China, the so-called engine of global growth, seems to be stalling badly right now. The country is facing rising unemployment, falling factory output and a collapsing property market. Plus, a growing number of regular Chinese citizens are complaining that the country's tough anti-Covid strategy isn't working.

China has faced choppy economic waters before. But with record high-levels of domestic debt, does it now have the resources to shore up the holes when firms, banks and even local governments start to run out of money? And what are the implications for the rest of us?

Presenter/producer: Ed Butler
Image: Children play basketball in front of a housing complex built by debt-laden Chinese property developer Evergrande in Beijing. Credit: Noel Celis/Getty Images.

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18 minutes

Last on

Thu 4 Aug 2022 07:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Thu 4 Aug 2022 07:32GMT

Podcast