Interesting that you should higighlht the impact of global factors on the Chinese economy. Interesting how China’s growth has been so much to do with exports whilst India with low levels of export is the reverse.I would not wish to claim that T L has the solution. However, if we accept that there is a point at which a market is, in logistics terms, stable; that outlets and points of purchase exist and, that consumers can buy then, the transition to get there from either a purely local economy or, one dependent on humanitarian aid is the work of Transformatioanl Logistics. Take the situation you describe. It is likely that outside of places like Shanghai and the Pearl River Delta less developed regions to the west and north there are many issues that need addressing in order to “connect” this less developed region to the wider domestic market and then, beyond to global markets. In fact, these could be the areas that will compete with India and Vietnam far more seriously than Shanghai etc. Aftar all, with high living costs it is more likely that Shanghai will look to move up the value chain and a completely different agenda. Maybe the World Bank LPI could be completed for different regions to illustrate the variability of performance across China’s 22 provinces and five autonomous regions. It is likely that this will also higighlht differences in working conditions, wages and, in levels of skill. The same issues apply in all of the rapidly growing countries of the BRIC (Brasil, Russia, India and China) and, the next 11. None of these countries are homogenous and all of them are characterised by signifcant regional differences. For example, some regions are equipped solely for local / regional markets; others can handle a wider domestic market and, some regions are operating as Global Gateways. This variable hinterland is a key issue and an area where T L research could be valuable.