Fishman

Bill Goodman speaks with best-selling author Ted Fishman about his book China Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World on the next edition of One to One. The program airs Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m./noon CT on KET1 and Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7:30/6:30 p.m. CT on KET2.

Fishman, a former floor trader and member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange who has lived in several Asian countries, discusses China’s astonishing economic boom. The country, Fishman says, is building a massive urban industrial infrastructure, and the Chinese have become top consumers of wood, garments, furniture, textiles, cement and much more. China’s economy is quickly becoming the largest in the world, with $2 trillion in its foreign exchange reserves. Roads, power plants and other necessities are being built extremely rapidly to accommodate the 1.5 million to 2 million people that move from rural China to urban areas each month.

However, Fishman points out that China’s growth may be “the world’s biggest mixed blessing.” More than 80 million Chinese have not benefited from the country’s economic surge and are living in absolute poverty, giving China one of the largest wealth gaps in the world. And, while U.S. consumers benefit from China’s growth, saving hundreds of dollars a year, American companies are sending their production jobs to China. Fishman also talks about environmental concerns in China, including devastating air and water pollution, toxic rivers and landslides.

Finally, Fishman offers his suggestions to American businesses who want to operate in China and to the future U.S. president about how to develop a relationship with the new superpower.

One to One with Bill Goodman is a KET production, produced by Goodman and Cindy Asher. Following the broadcast, One to One is available for on-demand videostream viewing at www.ket.org/onetoone and podcasting at www.ket.org/rss. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.