Entering The Chinese Market

Before entering the seemingly lucrative Chinese market, investors should be aware of the darkside of the current business environment. The risk of rampant corruption, economic, social and political problems, and threat to personal safety go along with the potential benefits of a thriving economy, rapid growth and swelling consumer demand. Dixon and Newman describe the Chinese business environment and its major players—the People's Liberation Army, the 'princelings'—and 'guanxi' (connections). In addition, they describe the plight of foreign business people who have recently found themselves in ugly personal situations because of China's lack of internationally accepted business practices and ethics, lack of institutionalized rule of law, and lack of an impartial law enforcement system. They conclude that any prospective business rewards must be discounted by the personal and personnel risks foreign businesses face when dealing with China.

An unyielding look at the current business environment of contemporary China for the business person considering entering the promising Chinese market.

Booknews

Attempting to balance the optimistic literature extolling the opportunities awaiting foreign investors in China, the authors offer an intentionally pessimistic collection of 74 expos<'e>s (of hazards entrepreneurs have faced in the past) embedded within a text warning of such problems as corruption within the government and the army, piracy, protectionism, kidnappings, and murders. The expos<'e>s are gathered from such sources as , , and . Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

JOHN DIXON is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Plymouth.

DAVID NEWMAN presently teaches at Nahoral University of Singapore.