Carnegie Endowment Events

China’s consumption imbalance bottomed out in 2011 and 2012, at the same time that financially repressed interest rates—the main factor behind both deepening imbalances and capital misallocation—finally reversed. Though China’s economy is rebalancing, some experts argue that Beijing waited too long to begin adjustments; debt levels are high and the economy still requires an unsustainably fast growth in credit to maintain high levels of economic activity. Michael Pettis analyzes the challenges and risks Beijing faces as it continues to implement necessary reforms. Douglas H. Paal moderates.