Shaun Rein

There’s been plenty of heavy literature written on China becoming the next big superpower, but it’s hard to find something up-to-date that’s informative without reading like a textbook.

Fortunately, Shaun Rein’s ‘The End of Cheap China’ is a refreshing read with some very personal accounts about the author’s life in China over the past ten years, meaning that people outside of the business and research demographic will also find something in it for them. Rein (founder of the China Market Research Group) is a likeable narrator, drawing the reader in with each chapter, providing anecdotes about the variety of people that he has met while living here, and how their experiences are characteristic in many, and are shaping the end of ‘Cheap China’ as we know it. Particularly interesting are the chapters on ‘Why Chinese Consider Kentucky Fried Chicken Harmful’ – the increased trend of Chinese buying western brand names and imported foods because of fears and distrust towards local produce, and ‘China’s Real Estate Sector’ which provides a lot of insight into the hot topic of residential and commercial developments in the mainland, both of which are supported by intelligent and well-informed research.

For the business reader, case studies are offered at the end of each chapter with advice on understanding the market, and for young, budding entrepreneurs, it’s a light and engaging read that really highlights the luxury sector boom and offers plenty of debate and discussion for the future.
… (altro)