Welcome to the McKinsey on China podcast. In this podcast, consultants from McKinsey’s Greater China Practice delve into the issues and trends shaping business and the economy in this dynamic region. Since we launched the podcast in December 2011, we’ve published 50 episodes on topics covering the full gamut of critical issues in China, including urbanization, globalization of Chinese companies, energy, consumers, electric vehicles, macroeconomic policy and reform, and more. Your hosts are Nick Leung and Glenn Leibowitz. Nick is the Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice. Glenn heads up McKinsey’s external relations and publishing group in Greater China. Subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes and listen to it while you’re on the road (or airborne). We’d appreciate if you could write a short review and rate it too. You can also listen to it right here on this website. Suggestions for future topics? Feedback? We’d like to hear from you. Send an email to china@mckinsey.com
What is China’s biggest economic challenge for the next 20 years?
A conversation on the McKinsey Global Institute’s new report on the reskilling of China’s workforce
3/10/2021 • 31 minutes, 11 seconds
When will the Chinese economy get back to normal?
McKinsey experts discuss developments in the Chinese economy in 2021.
2/23/2021 • 30 minutes, 27 seconds
Has COVID-19 infected the Chinese private equity industry?
Partners from McKinsey’s Private Equity and Principal Investors practice discuss the state of play in China’s private equity industry
9/4/2020 • 24 minutes, 19 seconds
Is Chinese industry emerging from COVID-19 stronger than ever?
Chinese industry is proving to be surprisingly resilient as it comes out of the COVID-19 crisis.
6/5/2020 • 30 minutes, 27 seconds
Has COVID-19 changed the Chinese consumer for good?
As China emerges from COVID-19, consumers are starting to spend again. How has the crisis changed them?
5/28/2020 • 31 minutes, 43 seconds
How COVID-19 is fast-forwarding 5 key trends in China
A new report by the partners of McKinsey’s Greater China region looks at how COVID-19 is accelerating five trends that are shaping the Chinese economy and society.
5/6/2020 • 34 minutes, 48 seconds
What’s driving the Chinese economy in 2020?
2020: A new year, a new decade, so what lies ahead? In this episode of the McKinsey on China podcast, Nick Leung chats with Gordon Orr and Jonathan Woetzel about what’s driving the economy—and what’s not. The Chinese consumer continues to power economic growth. Any potential increases in exports from the recently concluded trade deal more
1/24/2020 • 27 minutes, 1 second
Has China reached peak integration with the world?
Trillions of dollars of GDP depend on China’s integration with the rest of the world
7/2/2019 • 31 minutes, 12 seconds
How confident is the Chinese consumer?
In a slowing economy, consumer-facing companies in China need fresh strategies to remain competitive.
6/10/2019 • 27 minutes, 7 seconds
The state of the Chinese economy
The state of the Chinese economy
3/6/2019 • 21 minutes, 48 seconds
What Might Happen in China in 2017?
Gordon Orr joins Nick Leung and Joe Ngai for a conversation on what lies ahead for China in 2017.
1/25/2017 • 0
Is There a Method to the “Madness” of Chinese Outbound M&A?
What are the real forces driving the market for cross-border M&A?
1/10/2017 • 0
Is Chinese Biopharma a Role Model for Reform and Innovation?
Homegrown companies are driving China's biopharma sector to new levels of innovation and growth.
12/6/2016 • 0
Who Will Win the Race for China’s Fintech Sector?
The battle between fintech attackers and incumbent financial institutions in China heats up
9/9/2016 • 0
Has China’s Auto Market Hit a Speed Bump?
Despite a cooling auto market in China, there are several promising areas of growth.
5/12/2016 • 0
Has E-commerce in China Reached Its Midlife Crisis?
A discussion on emerging growth opportunities in China's e-commerce market.
4/27/2016 • 0
How Healthy Are Chinese Consumers?
Chinese consumers remain surprisingly confident, and are spending more on products and services that are aimed at enhancing the quality of their lives.
3/25/2016 • 0
Will Real Estate Crash the Chinese Economy?
There is growing concern that the high levels of debt tied to the real estate sector could be a source of instability.
2/26/2016 • 0
Is Private Equity the Silver Lining in the Chinese Economy?
Despite the recent negative economic headlines coming out of China, some private equity investors are taking a more positive view.
2/18/2016 • 0
How Worried Should We Be About China’s Economy?
China's latest GDP growth figure intensified the debate around the state of the economy.
2/3/2016 • 0
What’s in Store for China in 2016?
2015 has been an eventful year for China. The economy cooled. The stock market took a hit. But what’s in store for China in 2016?
12/26/2015 • 0
How Patient Do Chinese Patients Need to Be?
Access to quality drugs is becoming a critical issue in China’s journey toward modernizing its healthcare system.
12/15/2015 • 0
Will Big Data Be Big in China?
Big data is beginning to have big impact in China, but in what areas and to what extent?
12/3/2015 • 0
What is Gender Equality Worth in China?
A discussion on the economic implications of the lack of parity between men and women in China.
11/18/2015 • 0
How and Where Will China Innovate?
The question is no longer will China innovate, but how and where.
11/5/2015 • 0
Special Edition: Taking Stock of China’s Economy
A conversation on the challenges China faces today.
9/25/2015 • 0
Will a Chip Champion Emerge from China?
Despite billions of dollars in investment, China has yet to create a company that can compete on a global level.
8/20/2015 • 0
Can You Understand the Chinese Consumer in Just One Hour?
Jonathan Woetzel and Jeff Towson discuss the most important consumer trends shaping Chinese business today.
6/9/2015 • 0
Is a Bubble Brewing in China’s Internet?
Despite having the 2nd largest e-commerce market in the world & startups listing at sky high valuations, some observers are wondering if a bubble is brewing in China's Internet market.
6/2/2015 • 0
Should China rethink its approach to electric vehicles?
Despite billions spent on subsidies, tax breaks, and other incentives, electric vehicles have yet to take off.
4/22/2015 • 0
Getting Products to Chinese Consumers Productively
What should companies do to ensure that their products are delivered efficiently and profitably?
4/1/2015 • 0
Can China Reignite Economic Growth?
The government and the business sector are taking a harder look at what it will take for China to sustain the levels of job creation and income growth it needs to make the transition to a consumption-led economy.
3/6/2015 • 0
The Rise Of China’s iConsumers
In a recent survey we conducted of online consumers in China, we found a number of surprising trends that are shaking up the retail industry.
2/16/2015 • 0
The Four Trends Shaping China’s Retail Banking Landscape
A new survey shows how Chinese consumers are becoming less loyal to their banks, and more open to digital channels.
1/9/2015 • 0
Obesity: How big will China get?
While still not at the levels seen in mature markets, obesity is on the rise in China.
12/29/2014 • 0
This is what might happen in China in 2015
The economy is slowing, consumption is cooling, and jobs are getting harder to find.
12/19/2014 • 0
How Can China Close Its Food Gap?
As people consume both a greater quantity and variety of food, ensuring that supply keeps pace with demand is a perpetual challenge.
11/7/2014 • 0
Will the Chinese internet change the world?
Chinese consumers love the internet. In the past decade, they’ve driven the explosive growth of e-commerce and social media.
8/25/2014 • 0
Will market forces revolutionize Chinese healthcare?
Private healthcare is a hot topic in China these days.
6/26/2014 • 0
Will Chinese ecommerce conquer the world?
Will China’s ecommerce players play a more active global role?
5/19/2014 • 0
Can you understand China in one hour?
In "The One Hour China Book", Jeff Towson and Jonathan Woetzel describe the six megatrends shaping China today in just six short stories.
3/27/2014 • 0
Is China on the cusp of a digital banking revolution?
Digital technologies are promising to shake up China’s stodgy banking sector.
2/6/2014 • 18 minutes, 40 seconds
Why should Chinese companies list overseas?
The delisting of several Chinese firms from foreign exchanges in recent years has some wondering why Chinese companies should list overseas.
1/22/2014 • 21 minutes, 27 seconds
What might happen in China in 2014?
It’s 2014, and Gordon Orr is back with his annual predictions for the coming year in China.
1/5/2014 • 18 minutes, 32 seconds
Does China’s trust industry pose a systemic risk to the financial system?
There’s a growing concern that China's trust industry could pose a risk to the stability of China’s financial system.
12/31/2013 • 20 minutes, 16 seconds
Will China’s countryside become as important as its cities?
Now that the one-child policy has been relaxed, how will China feed its people?
12/9/2013 • 20 minutes, 2 seconds
Can Shenzhen serve as a model for the rest of China?
Is there something to be learned from the Shenzhen experience in other parts of China?
12/9/2013 • 17 minutes, 21 seconds
How fundamental is China’s next wave of reform?
China is gearing up for a major event: the third plenary session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist party.
12/9/2013 • 20 minutes, 6 seconds
How sick is China’s pharmaceutical market?
What does the recent government crack-down portend for China's pharma market?
9/18/2013 • 19 minutes, 19 seconds
Can China close the talent gap?
As China evolves from being the workshop of the world to an economy driven by higher value-added products and services, it will need more high-skilled workers. But if current projections hold, China is likely to come up short. According to new McKinsey research, China faces a large and widening gap in the supply of university more
8/14/2013 • 16 minutes, 35 seconds
Is there a Chinese model of innovation?
Chinese companies do innovate. They just do it differently. China may not be known yet as a hotbed of innovation, but the signs are hard to ignore. A growing number of firms are creating new products and developing entirely new businesses that are changing the paradigm of Chinese innovation. In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses more
7/11/2013 • 17 minutes, 18 seconds
Is the coming shale gas revolution an opportunity or a threat to China?
How does China plan to tap the coming shale gas revolution? It still may be several years until China taps its shale gas reserves, but industry players are already plotting their strategies, and anticipation is running pretty high. How will shale gas impact China’s energy market? In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses this question with more
6/28/2013 • 18 minutes, 49 seconds
Can China remain the factory of the world?
Do rising labor costs and an appreciating renminbi spell the end of China’s role as the “factory of the world?” Do rising labor costs and the appreciation of the renminbi spell the end of China’s role as the “factory of the world”? Not so fast, argue the leaders of McKinsey’s Operations Practice in China. In more
6/6/2013 • 20 minutes, 28 seconds
Is air pollution an inevitable outcome of economic development in China?
Does China need to make a trade-off between economic development and the environment? Severe air pollution has recently emerged as one of the biggest public health threats in China. Clearly, rapid economic growth and urbanization are at the root of the problem. But is air pollution an inevitable consequence of China’s climb up the economic more
5/3/2013 • 19 minutes, 27 seconds
How e-tailing is changing China
E-tailing is having a broader impact on China’s economy by stimulating consumption Almost overnight, China has become the world’s second-largest e-tail market, and is set to overtake the US in the next few years. According to a new report by the McKinsey Global Institute, e-tailing is not only transforming the retail landscape in China, it’s more
4/9/2013 • 19 minutes, 23 seconds
What’s driving China’s premium car market?
Driving growth in China’s premium car market is an emerging class of new mainstream consumers that seem more interested in styling and performance. According to a new report by McKinsey’s Automotive Practice, China is expected to become the world’s largest market for premium autos by 2016. Driving growth in the market is an emerging class more
3/15/2013 • 18 minutes, 44 seconds
Will the invisible hand prevail in China’s auto market?
As consumers get wealthier and their driving habits and preferences evolve, will market forces play a bigger role in shaping China’s auto market? According to a new report by McKinsey’s Automotive Practice, China is expected to drive over one-third of total growth in the global auto market from now until 2020. The guiding hand of more
2/4/2013 • 18 minutes, 4 seconds
How innovative are Chinese companies?
Innovation is a priority for Chinese companies. How innovative are they today? Most Chinese CEOs say that innovation is a priority topic on their agenda. But just how innovative are Chinese companies today? In this podcast, Nick Leung addresses this topic with Erik Roth and Alan Huang. Erik is a Partner in Shanghai who heads more
1/25/2013 • 20 minutes, 12 seconds
7 predictions for China in 2013
From spikes in pork prices to bankrupt retailers, 2013 could turn out to be a very interesting year in China. From spikes in pork prices to bankrupt retailers to international investment in Chinese soccer, 2013 could turn out to be a very interesting year for China. In this podcast, Nick Leung chats with Gordon Orr more
1/15/2013 • 26 minutes, 5 seconds
Where are China’s rich stashing their cash?
Flush with cash, China’s rich are seeking ways to preserve as well as expand their wealth. China’s economic boom has spawned a new class of wealthy individuals. Flush with cash, China’s rich are seeking ways to preserve as well as expand their wealth. In this podcast, Nick Leung speaks with Emmanuel Pitsilis, Kenny Lam, and more
12/25/2012 • 18 minutes, 33 seconds
Is insurance in China as boring as it is elsewhere?
Domestic and multinational insurers need to take a fresh look at this dynamic market In most parts of the world, insurance is not a sector that draws a lot of attention. In China, however, it’s a dynamic industry with enormous growth potential, and one which is undergoing sweeping changes as well. In this podcast, Stephan more
12/12/2012 • 15 minutes, 44 seconds
What would you do if you were Xi Jinping?
How should China’s new leadership tackle the country’s economic challenges? The 18th Party Congress is over and a new line-up of Chinese leaders is firmly in place. At the top of their agenda: steering one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the world. What key policy challenges do China’s leaders face, and what kinds more
11/30/2012 • 18 minutes, 44 seconds
Luring China’s little emperors
A new class of mainstream consumers are spurring companies to rethink their strategies Most Chinese consumers are happy enough if the products they buy do what they promise: keep their clothes clean or quench their thirst, for example. But there’s a new class of younger, wealthier, and more sophisticated mainstream consumers that are seeking more more
11/29/2012 • 15 minutes, 44 seconds
Luring China’s little emperors
Most Chinese consumers are happy enough if the products they buy do what they promise: keep their clothes clean or quench their thirst, for example. But there’s a new class of younger, wealthier, and more sophisticated mainstream consumers that are seeking more intangible, often emotional benefits from their purchases. These new mainstream consumers are spurring more
11/29/2012 • 15 minutes, 44 seconds
Can the private sector cure China’s healthcare system
The Chinese government has ambitious plans to raise the level of private sector involvement in the healthcare system. Private hospitals are sprouting up around the country. What can healthcare providers do to tap into this emerging opportunity? Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice, discussed this topic with Claudia Suessmuth Dyckerhoff and Alex more
11/29/2012 • 17 minutes, 36 seconds
Where are China’s global brands?
China wants to build global brands. Today, though, one would be hard pressed to name more than a handful of Chinese brands that have established a presence outside of China. So what are Chinese companies doing to address this issue, and how far along are they on their quest to build global brands? Nick Leung, more
11/29/2012 • 13 minutes, 54 seconds
Are there any rays of sunshine in China’s solar sector?
Not so long ago, solar was really hot in China. Today, overcapacity and weak demand have pushed prices and profits down. What will it take for China’s solar industry to pull out of its slump? In this podcast, Bill Wiseman and David Xu join Nick Leung for a heated discussion of this topic. Bill is more
11/28/2012 • 14 minutes, 20 seconds
What healthcare system can China afford?
While the government’s healthcare reform program is well underway, much work remains to be done before China can achieve its aspiration of providing quality and affordable healthcare to its people. This is creating a host of new opportunities as well as challenges for companies trying to plan their next move in China. Nick Leung, Managing more
8/24/2012 • 19 minutes, 36 seconds
Chinese companies on the prowl
Chinese companies have lately been on the prowl for acquisition targets around the world. A few high profile deals have been announced recently. But is the trickle about to turn into a flood, and are Chinese companies able to extract value from their purchases? Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice, discussed this more
8/10/2012 • 18 minutes, 54 seconds
Private equity in China: from sailing to rowing
China’s private equity sector is the largest in Asia, and is increasingly seen as a source of growth in an otherwise challenging global market. But as China’s cooling economy makes it harder to find attractive deals, and as the IPO market dries up, private equity players are shifting their attention from sourcing deals to managing more
6/25/2012 • 15 minutes, 31 seconds
Does China’s economy need another shot in the arm?
The Chinese government’s recent interest rate cut has triggered a fresh round of speculation around the state of the economy. Some observers are debating whether China needs another round of stimulus measures, and if so, which ones would have the biggest impact. Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice, discussed this topic with more
6/20/2012 • 16 minutes, 13 seconds
The changing role of China’s state-owned enterprises
China’s state-owned enterprises have undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade. While their share of economic output has declined, their influence has not. In fact, in several of China’s most strategic sectors, state-run firms are sharpening their management skills and transforming their operations so they can compete globally. Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s more
6/2/2012 • 14 minutes, 42 seconds
How should companies react to China’s economic softening?
The Chinese government recently announced a number of stimulus measures intended to shore up the economy, which is starting to show signs of cooling. So how should companies react?
5/26/2012 • 16 minutes, 51 seconds
Can women solve China’s talent gap?
Fast-growing Chinese companies have been grappling with an issue for a number of years now: how to find and retain qualified management talent. While women in China have a very high participation rate in the workforce, they’re noticeably absent from senior management ranks. Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice, discussed a forthcoming more
5/18/2012 • 14 minutes, 52 seconds
Are Chinese cities sacrificing sustainability for short-term gain?
China’s cities are getting big, but can they also be sustainable? The Urban China Initiative believes they can, as they highlight in their latest report, which assesses and ranks the sustainability of Chinese cities across four key dimensions. Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice, discussed this report with Jonathan Woetzel and Guangyu more
5/7/2012 • 15 minutes, 17 seconds
How can companies tame China’s social media dragon?
According to a new report by McKinsey, China now has the largest and most active population of social media users in the world. So what can companies do to leverage this channel to build their businesses - and protect their brands? Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice, discussed this report with Chris more
4/28/2012 • 14 minutes, 30 seconds
A second chance for electric vehicles in China
In our last podcast on electric vehicles in China, we discussed why they’ve failed to live up to expectations, and whether there’s a future for this technology here. In this podcast, we take the conversation a step further and propose a solution. In a new report, published this week by McKinsey’s China Auto Hub, we more
4/20/2012 • 16 minutes, 25 seconds
Will the next medical equipment champion come from China?
China's medical equipment industry - which covers anything from surgical gloves and hospital beds, to hear stents and CAT scanners - is booming. Chinese companies are moving up the value chain, and are starting to capture market share in segments that were previously dominated by multinational players. A few Chinese companies are even establishing a more
4/13/2012 • 16 minutes, 15 seconds
What’s next for retail banking in China?
New research by McKinsey shows that China’s retail banking market is on track to become the second largest in the world by 2015, after only the US. For Chinese banks, capturing growth will require taking a different approach than they have in the past, one that focuses on implementing leaner cost structures and gearing service more
4/1/2012 • 16 minutes, 5 seconds
How Chinese will the Chinese consumer remain?
Chinese consumers are changing – that much everyone can agree on. But how exactly are consumers starting to resemble their counterparts in the rest of the world? And in what ways will they continue to behave as they always have? Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice, discussed a new report that addresses more
3/23/2012 • 15 minutes, 40 seconds
Have China and Japan entered a new era of economic cooperation?
Japanese companies have had their challenges in China, while Chinese companies have yet to establish a substantial presence in Japan. Recently, however, we’ve seen some promising examples of collaboration in both directions. Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice, discussed this topic recently with Peter Kenevan, Ken Kajii, and Gordon Orr. Peter and more
3/17/2012 • 12 minutes
It’s getting tough to be a Chinese mayor
The government’s recently announced target of 7.5% GDP growth for this year should be considered relatively good news for China’s mayors. For it’s the mayors who bear much of the burden of implementing economic policy in China. But things aren’t getting any easier. In fact, they seem to be getting harder these days, as revenues more
3/10/2012 • 16 minutes, 20 seconds
When will electric vehicles in China live up to the hype?
Just a few years ago, China’s auto sector was gearing up for the roll-out of electric vehicles. Today, few electric vehicles can be found on China’s increasingly crowded highways and city streets. What’s holding the industry back from going electric, and when will China finally live up to the hype? Nick Leung, Managing Partner of more
3/2/2012 • 17 minutes, 20 seconds
China’s insatiable thirst for energy
China seems to have an insatiable thirst for energy. McKinsey research predicts that China will drive as much as one-quarter of the world's incremental demand for energy through the year 2030. To keep up with this demand, China will be spending $130 billion a year over the next two decades on new power plants, an more
2/16/2012 • 15 minutes
Lessons from Taiwanese companies in China
Over the past two decades, Taiwanese firms across a range of industry sectors have quietly established very successful businesses there. What’s behind their success? And is there something that companies from other markets can learn from Taiwanese firms about operating in China? Nick Leung, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice, discussed this topic recently more
2/8/2012 • 14 minutes, 5 seconds
A brave new world for multinationals in China
In China, domestic firms are capturing market share and profits by designing products that not only appeal to Chinese consumer tastes – but are also priced substantially lower than comparable offerings from multinational firms. As a result, more and more multinational companies are finding it necessary to rethink their approach to product design and development more
1/31/2012 • 17 minutes, 25 seconds
China’s urban threshold
It’s official – China is now mostly an urban nation. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, urban dwellers now account for more than 51% of China’s population of nearly 1.35 billion. That’s 690 million people, a number the McKinsey Global Institute expects will reach one billion by the year 2030. Now that China has more
1/10/2012 • 21 minutes, 35 seconds
Private equity with Chinese characteristics
The sector is starting to take on characteristics of more developed markets, leading some to ask, “Is private equity finally coming of age in China?”. In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses this topic with Bruno Roy and Joe Ngai. Nick is Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China practice, based in Beijing. Bruno is a Partner more
1/10/2012 • 12 minutes, 40 seconds
China’s economic outlook in 2012
As we move into 2012, questions remain regarding how these issues will play out, what kind of policy actions the Chinese government might take to address them, and what companies should do to prepare for the new year. In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses the outlook for the Chinese economy in 2012 with Jonathan Woetzel, more
12/21/2011 • 19 minutes, 5 seconds
Profiting from online video in China
Despite the potential, many observers are cautious about the industry’s outlook. While the market may be growing rapidly, few companies are actually making money. Our research suggests that profits will materialize, but only players with the deepest pockets will survive. In this podcast, Nick Leung speaks with Alan Lau and Davis Lin, authors of a more
12/13/2011 • 12 minutes, 15 seconds
China’s changing consumer banking landscape
How does the banking market in China stack up to the rest of the world, and how have consumer attitudes changed since the financial crisis? McKinsey took a closer look at these and other questions in a recent survey of 20,000 consumers across 13 different markets in Asia. In this podcast, Nick Leung speaks with more
12/5/2011 • 10 minutes, 30 seconds
Decoding China’s 12th Five-Year Plan
China’s 12th five-year plan is an ambitious document that builds on decades of rapid economic development. It aims to transform the Chinese economy from one that is focused on exports and GDP growth, to a more sustainable model that addresses the pressing social and environmental issues facing China today. In this podcast, Nick Leung, Managing more
11/28/2011 • 14 minutes, 35 seconds
Can China Innovate?
China is rapidly becoming a center of innovation activity, and spurring innovation is one of the top priorities in the Chinese government’s latest five-year plan. This policy initiative is creating local champions that are taking market share from multinational corporations operating in China. They’re also becoming powerful competitors on the international stage. But progress varies more
