logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2023
13m 43s

How did 6 million people in China buy ho...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

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, tells us about societal pressures young people face to be home owners in China.

Chen Yen, a journalist at BBC’s Chinese service in Hong Kong, takes us through the details of the housing market.

And as China is the world's second-largest economy, what kind of damage could a collapse of its property market cause? Nick Marsh, our Asia Business Correspondent explains how concerned we should be.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Up next
Yesterday
Should schools ditch screens?
After literacy levels started to fall in Sweden, the country’s government decided to ditch tablets and laptops…and focus more on good old pens and paper. Not everyone thinks this is the right approach though. Some tech bosses say getting rid of technology in classrooms will leave ... Show More
8m 58s
Apr 29
Footballers banned from covering their mouths at the World Cup
Under new rules brought in by Fifa, footballers who cover their mouths during verbal confrontations will be sent off at this year’s World Cup. It’s hoped that these measures will help prevent abusive behaviour.Some critics of the rule say that footballers speaking with their shir ... Show More
8m 57s
Apr 28
Is Ube the new matcha?
Ube — a vibrant purple yam indigenous to the Philippines — has been a staple of Filipino cuisine for thousands of years. But only recently has it surged in popularity abroad. It is now appearing as an ingredient and flavouring in desserts, pastries and coffees, from small indepen ... Show More
10m 55s
Recommended Episodes
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
Jul 2023
China’s Economic Rebound Hits a Wall
<p>When China suddenly dismantled its lockdowns and other Covid precautions last December, officials in Beijing and many investors expected the economy to spring back to life. It hasn’t worked out that way.</p><p>Daisuke Wakabayashi, an Asia business correspondent for The Times, ... Show More
22m 59s