The “China for a day” thesis assumes that it is big, government actions that really get things done. But the most important decisions for the future wealth and power of nations often do not come from the top down, but from the bottom up. The best ideas do not reside in the politburo but in talented individuals in the boardroom, or the battlefield, closest to the action. A government that gets out of the way and lets societal actors fill the void have often proven more successful. Indeed, too much government control can stifle creativity and crowd out the energies of society where the real
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