logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2021
19m 3s

The homes stretch: Evergrande

The Economist
About this episode

China’s property behemoth has slammed up against new rules on its giant debt pile. We ask what wider risks it now poses as a cash crunch bites. Britain has begun a demographic trend unusual in the rich world: its share of young people is spiking—and will be for a decade. And what the pandemic has done for the future of office-wear.

For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Peace fire: further US-Iran strikes
As America hit 90 targets in a second day of attacks on Iran, the fragile truce is in jeopardy. Our correspondent explains how power shifts within Iran may affect the war. Asian governments are trying to force children to care for ageing parents. And day four of our journey down ... Show More
20m 44s
Yesterday
Marine warfare: Le Pen runs for president
Last night, the populist-right leader announced that she will run in the French presidential election next year. Our correspondent analyses the Le Pen dynasty and explains how this decision will shape the campaign. The world’s first refuge for whales once held in captivity. And o ... Show More
24m 27s
Jul 7
Continental rift: NATO’s tense summit
As NATO leaders gather for the annual summit in Turkey today, the thorniest issue is off the agenda: fractures within the alliance. Our correspondent travels to the Baltics, where a strategic shift is already evident. First there was vibe coding, now vibe lawyering is coming to c ... Show More
20m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
The Intelligence: China’s ever grander property crisis
One of the country’s biggest property companies, Evergrande, has been crippled by its debt. What does a new court order mean for prospective homebuyers, and the firm’s creditors? Is there a way for Joe Biden to be replaced by the Democrats’ presidential candidate (09:45)? And the ... Show More
22m 55s
Sep 2021
Evergrande debt crisis: China’s ‘Lehman moment’ vs Xi’s ‘Common Prosperity’
Mimi Lau speaks with SCMP reporter Pearl Liu about the background to the US$300 billion debt crisis for China's property giant Evergrande, the warning signs from 2019 and escalating events this year that lead to protests across China. Desk editor Zhou Xin explores how Evergrande ... Show More
38m 54s
May 2021
Baby bust: China’s census
<p>China just <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2021/05/11/chinas-census-shows-its-population-is-nearing-its-peak?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=third-party-host&utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> ... Show More
21m 50s
Oct 2023
How did 6 million people in China buy homes that don’t exist?
China is in the middle of a housing market crisis. Two of its top property developers, Evergrande and Country Garden, are struggling to pay back debt or fulfil their promises to build properties they have already sold to millions of people.Fan Wang, a BBC reporter in Singapore, t ... Show More
13m 43s
Oct 2021
A Threat to China’s Economy
<p>Every once in a while a company grows so big and messy that governments fear what would happen to the broader economy if it were to fail. In China, Evergrande, a sprawling real estate developer, is that company.</p><p>Evergrande has the distinction of being the world’s most de ... Show More
30m 25s
Sep 2021
Evergrande and China's property woes
China's second largest property developer, Evergrande, is at risk of financial collapse, saddled with billions of dollars of debt. It's already defaulted on some bond repayments and has been forced to sell off assets; both Chinese and international investors are worried and Beiji ... Show More
17m 28s