BusinessWeek, Dec 19, 2011

choi

(1) Dexter Roberts, Using Propaganda to Stop China's Strikes. Government and industry search for ways to calm the country's factory hands
http://www.businessweek.com/maga ... rikes-12152011.html

Note:
(a) The Smurfs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smurf
(b)  Oor Galooly, What does Les Schtroumpfs mean in French? Anwserbag, Apr 24, 2008
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/715433
("It does not mean anything in standard French, but it means something in German: 'Schtroumpf' is spelled in French like the German word 'Strumpf,' meaning 'sock'")

(i) The English noun salt corresponds to "le sel" in French, and "salz" in German.
(ii) The English noun sock is "socke" in German.
(iii) The German noun "strumpf" is actually "stocking" in English--the long one worn by women.

(2) In China, Culling the Carmaker Herd. The Government Aims to Shut Some Manufacturers, But It’s Slow Going.
http://www.businessweek.com/maga ... -herd-12152011.html

Quote:

"China today has more than 70 automakers. But the bottom 55 of those account for just 11 percent of the country’s vehicle sales, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Ten companies haven’t sold a single vehicle this year.* * * This year the top 15 producers (both domestic and foreign brands) have 89 percent of the market, according to CAAM. * * * There has been some consolidation already; the number of automakers tracked by CAAM has fallen from 103 in 2001 to the current 70.  

"Even industry leaders such as Changan, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GNZUF), and BYD (BYDDY) have seen their domestic sales fall by more than 10 percent this year, CAAM says. Chery, once hyped as a top rival to General Motors (GM) in China, saw domestic deliveries tumble 30 percent in November from a year ago.

"China’s auto market has surged almost eightfold in the past decade, to more than 18 million vehicles a year.

Note: Nick Bunkley, GM Regains the Top Spot in Global Automaking. New York Times, Jan 20, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/2 ... mp;sq=gm&st=cse
(GM "sales figures include its joint ventures in China")

(3)  Shifting Market Stings Chinese Homeowners. After borrowing heavily to buy, they take to the streets in protest
http://www.businessweek.com/maga ... wners-12152011.html
("The home-buying boom has contributed to a doubling of household debt in China since 2008, though the total amount is still far below US levels, according to research firm Dragonomics")

My comment: Read only the first two and the last paragrtaphs, about personal story of Mr Danny Deng.