Ep. 301: Andrew Polk on China’s Bet on Tech Supremacy

Andrew Polk is the co-founder and head of economic research at Trivium China, a Beijing-based strategic advisory firm. Before founding Trivium, he was China director at Medley Global Advisors. Previously, he was the resident China economist at The Conference Board’s China Center for Economics and Business. Andrew is the co-author of The Long, Soft Fall in Chinese Growth (The Conference Board, 2015) and maintains a deep network of professional contacts in the official, academic, and business communities in China (built over a decade of living in China and working on China issues). This podcast covers: 

• China’s unique development model – balancing market forces with state control and historical parallels to East Asia and Germany. 
• Xi Jinping’s economic philosophy – rejuvenating the Communist Party, promoting tech, and focusing on national greatness. 
• Transitioning from property-driven growth to new industries like EVs, AI, and green tech. 
• Overproduction and overcapacity challenges tied to systemic incentives and economic shifts. 
• Stabilization efforts in the property sector and regional disparities in housing markets. 
• Tech regulation under Xi – from crackdowns to cautious optimism in AI leadership. 
• Rising trade tensions and supply chain shifts amid Western ‘de-risking’ strategies. 
• China’s approach to US relations – anticipating long-term tensions and preparing for Trump 2.0. 
• Deepening ties with the Global South and a strategic but complex relationship with Russia. 
• Books mentioned: ​The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It (Gerber) 

You can follow Andrew’s work here. 

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