Post-COVID China: Will the Economy Bump or Slump?

China, Featured, Peter Zeihan

By Peter Zeihan

As countries across the globe peeled back COVID restrictions, many of those economies saw huge (and much-needed) bumps. With China approaching six months since lifting its lockdown, the question on everyoneโ€™s mind is why hasnโ€™t the worldโ€™s second-largest economy seen an economic bump?

I wonโ€™t hold my breath, and the Chinese shouldnโ€™t, either. There is simply too much going on in the Chinese system for reopening to fix everything magically. Between countries pulling their manufacturing needs from China in favor of reshoring, a growing anti-China sentiment, and a terminal demographic situationโ€ฆChina isnโ€™t looking so hot.

It shouldnโ€™t come as a surprise to anyone that China isnโ€™t going to be getting a post-COVID bump. In all likelihood, they are probably going to experience an economic slump.


Peter Zeihan is a world expert in geopolitics: the study of how place impacts financial, economic, cultural, political, and military developments.

He presents customized executive briefings to a wide array of audiences including financial professionals, Fortune 500 firms, energy investors, and a mix of industrial, power, agricultural, and consulting associations and corporations.

Mr. Zeihan has been featured in, and cited by, numerous newspapers and broadcasts includingย The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, AP, Bloomberg, CNN, ABC, The New York Times, Fox News,ย andย MarketWatch.