China’s Communist Party takes aim at hedonistic bankers
In recent years, China’s economic policies have been highly scrutinized as the country’s leaders strive to simultaneously maintain economic stability and propel China’s development into the future. Now, the Chinese Communist Party is taking an unusual step to ensure that its ambitious goals for the country’s economy stay on track by cracking down on hedonistic bankers.
1. Party Politics Target Hedonism
The political landscape of the modern day often puts safe gathering and having a good time at odds. Party politics are busy navigating an increasingly prudish society where hedonism often appears as an affront to the mores of the moment.
But in response, many organizers and venues are attempting to reshape the image of revelership for the better. By placing importance on conscientious and community-oriented practices, hedonism is increasingly being seen as a beneficial pursuit and provide a social setting where topics like gender, sexuality, and cultural identity find an open arena.
- Inclusionary Vibe – Concepts like inclusion and good vibes are becoming cornerstones in many events.
- Safe Spaces – A party that values these concepts will ensure a safe, and therefore more enjoyable, night.
- Consent and Respect – The values of consent and respect in an establishment reduce the likelihood of any untoward behavior.
2. Heady Times for China’s Bankers
China’s rapid economic growth has been underpinned by a robust banking system, which is expected to keep expanding. With rising incomes and greater economic engagement abroad, China’s bankers are leading the way in global streams of credit and investment.
One power-house developing in the banking sector is the emergence of fintech and digital banking platforms, which offer innovative business models to the established prive legers. The sheer size of the market potential – more than 700 million users – has made it an attractive prospect for investment. Inside the boardrooms of China’s leading banks, there is no denying that these are heady times indeed.
- Rising incomes and greater economic engagement boad
- Emergence of fintech and digital banking
- Powerful market potential of 700 million users
3. Communist Crackdown or Capital Pressures?
- When the Cold War ended, the world’s political landscape changed drastically.
The Iron Curtain that had once separated countries based on their neo-Stalinist or liberal Western ideologies lifted, and nations began to grapple with a very different type of challenge: that of economic stability. As countries opened their borders, they encountered increased competition and lower tariffs, creating tensions between global entities.
While some saw the economic impacts of this free market as beneficial, creating a more consumer-friendly environment, others felt it had detrimental effects on smaller businesses and the working class. Many questioned if the capital pressures were really to blame for the demise of their industries, or if the downfall was due to a more systematic Marxist-Leninist system shutting them down?
In some cases, we can see evidence that capital pressures were responsible for the demise. Businesses were unable to compete in certain markets, as foreign investments and competition increased. Meanwhile, in other scenarios, it is threatened Communist regimes that have caused the most disruption.
The truth is that, while there is certainly influence from both sides, we may never know the true cause of the economic turmoil that followed the Cold War. Capital pressures certainly contributed to the ending of many smaller businesses and the hard-earned jobs of employees. However, there may also be other factors at play, such as the political manipulations of certain states. All this goes to show that, in the contemporary world, external forces can severely impact the stability of the people.
4. Global Financial Implications of the “Hedonic” Pushback
The ability for countries to benefit from the export of commodities, consumer goods and services depends largely on their macroeconomic conditions. The “hedonic” pushback is a term used to describe a current wave of increasing tariffs and taxes on imported goods, weakening the global economy.
The immediate implications are that those countries depending heavily on export are going to suffer a significant economic penalty. We can observe this in the US-China “trade war”, which has lead to high tariffs on Chinese imports leading to a decrease in Chinese market growth. For other countries, we are seeing:
- Potential Export Losses: Imports and exports are intertwined links in a chain, and so when imports decrease, so do exports.
- Currencies Plunging in Value: Foreign currencies will become weaker compared to the US dollar, Euros, and other major currencies. This affects businesses making international transactions and can create economic uncertainty.
- Inflation: Poor economic conditions lead to increased inflation and a decrease in purchasing power. This is an especially difficult burden on emerging economies where the poverty rate is already high.
Ultimately, the “hedonic” pushback is affecting the global economy by strangling some of the world’s most important markets and making it much harder for countries to benefit from international trade. We may also expect to see an increase in unemployment, as businesses struggle to cope with increased taxes and tariffs. This is just the latest of the Communist Party’s push for a more moral society, so it looks like the days of luxurious lifestyles for naive hedonistic bankers could be coming to an end. Whether this will mean a better China for everyone remains to be seen.