What’s next for China?
The Financial Times writes on why China’s big growth days may be over:
First, the potential for infrastructure investment has “contracted conspicuously”, with its share in fixed asset investment down from 30 per cent to 20 per cent over the past decade. Second, returns on assets have fallen and overcapacity has soared. The “incremental capital output ratio” — a measure of the growth generated by a given level of investment — reached 4.6 in 2011, the highest since 1992. China is getting less growth bang for its investment buck. Third, growth of the labour supply has fallen sharply. Fourth, urbanisation is still rising, but at a decelerating rate. Finally, risks are growing in the finance of local governments and real estate.
Turn it off
Guardian U.K. writes a great piece on the toxicity of news:
News is irrelevant. Out of the approximately 10,000 news stories you have read in the last 12 months, name one that — because you consumed it — allowed you to make a better decision about a serious matter affecting your life, your career or your business. The point is: the consumption of news is irrelevant to you. But people find it very difficult to recognise what’s relevant. It’s much easier to recognise what’s new. The relevant versus the new is the fundamental battle of the current age. Media organisations want you to believe that news offers you some sort of a competitive advantage. Many fall for that. We get anxious when we’re cut off from the flow of news. In reality, news consumption is a competitive disadvantage. The less news you consume, the bigger the advantage you have.
Never gets old
In 2000, two economists wrote a badly timed and highly flawed book called Dow 36,000. I recently found an op-ed the two wrote at the time justifying their call:
Something profound has been happening over the last two decades in the stock market. It is undeniable. Measurements that used to indicate that shares were overvalued and headed for a fall no longer seem to apply … David Dodd, the great financial analyst of 1930s, once wrote that the four most dangerous words in the English language were “This time it’s different.” But sometimes, it is different — despite the protests of financial economists, Wall Street pundits and journalists.
Still miss him
Here’s a great video of Steve Jobs offering advice on how to get ahead.
Enjoy your weekend.
The article 8 Fascinating Reads originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Morgan Housel .
Fool contributor Morgan Housel has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Google.
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