Vampire State - The Rise and Fall of the Chinese Economy

"This is a timely and important read... Through several deeply reported chapters, he outlines how Beijing wields its influence on business: from regulatory coercion and boardroom intimidation, through even to the mysterious disappearance of entrepreneurs." -- Financial Times, Best New Books on Economics

This is the terrifying story of China's vampire economy.

State capitalism. Socialism with Chinese characteristics. A socialist market economy. There have been numerous descriptions of the Chinese economy. However, none seems to capture the predatory, at times surreal, nature of the economy of the world's most populous nation - nor the often bruising and mind-bending experience of doing business with the Middle Kingdom.

Rules and agreements mean little. Markets are distorted, statistics fabricated, foreign industrial secrets and technology systematically stolen. Companies and entrepreneurs, at home and abroad, are bullied - often with the collusion of the victims themselves. The Party is in every boardroom and lab, with businesses thriving or dying at its will.

All this is part of realising President Xi Jinping's ambition of China becoming the world's pre-eminent economic, technological and military power.

One of the Financial Times' Best New Books on Economics in 2024

About the author

Ian Williams was foreign correspondent for Channel 4 News, based in Russia (1992–1995) and then Asia (1995–2006). He then joined NBC News as Asia Correspondent (2006–2015), when he was based in Bangkok and Beijing. As well as reporting from China over the last 25 years, he has also covered conflicts in the Balkans, the Middle East and Ukraine. He won an Emmy and BAFTA awards for his discovery and reporting on the Serb detention camps during the war in Bosnia. He is currently a doctoral student in the War Studies department at King’s College, London, focusing on cyber issues.

Product details

• Authors: Ian Williams
• Publisher: BIRLINN LIMITED
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 07.08.2025
• EAN: 9781780279633
• ISBN: 978-1-78027-963-3
• No. of pages: 368
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; China, Business & Economics / General, Economics, finance, business & management, POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, Economics, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / General, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economic History, POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / General, Geopolitics, International Relations, Economic history, Politics & government, Politics and government, East Asia, Far East, Economics, finance, business and management