--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: China has seen a great deal of economic…" description: "\"China has seen a great deal of economic progress. It's certainly rather of a miracle. The growing role of the market in the economy will force China to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/milton-friedman-616_china_china-has-seen-a-great-deal-of-economic_2341466.png" --- # China has seen a great deal of economic progress. It's… ![“China has seen a great deal of economic progress. It's certainly rather of a miracle. The growing role of the market in the economy will force China to open up its political system over time and to move toward a more democratic society. So taken as a whole, the one real failure in this whole…” quote by Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/milton-friedman-616_china_china-has-seen-a-great-deal-of-economic_2341466.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/milton-friedman-616_china_china-has-seen-a-great-deal-of-economic_2341466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/milton-friedman-616_china_china-has-seen-a-great-deal-of-economic_2341466.png) > “China has seen a great deal of economic progress. It's certainly rather of a miracle. The growing role of the market in the economy will force China to open up its political system over time and to move toward a more democratic society. So taken as a whole, the one real failure in this whole business has been Russia.” [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic growth can inspire political openness, but assuming market forces alone will democratize a nation oversimplifies complex social dynamics. **In simple terms:** Growth may lead to political change, but it’s not guaranteed. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of market‑driven reforms. Themes economics political change democracy Mood analytical critical Type political economic When to use this quote - policy planning - foreign investment - civil society building Key Concepts political science development studies Questions to Reflect On - Will market liberalization always foster democracy? - What other factors influence political reform? A Different Perspective Economic reforms can be resisted by entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Democratic society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-society/) [Economic progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-progress/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Market economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/market-economy/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Political systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-systems/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) ## Related quotes > [What is called economic progress is the joint effect of the activities of the three progressive groups-or classes-of the savers, the scientist-inventors, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/what-is-called-economic-progress-is-the-joint-effect-of-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The investing public has a right to know which corporations are doing business in Russia, which has become a dangerous place to operate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/the-investing-public-has-a-right-to-know-which-corporations-are-doing/) [Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/) > [Tough sanctions would mean saying to BP, Exxon, Chevron, Shell, Boeing and Siemens that they can't do business in Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-hill/tough-sanctions-would-mean-saying-to-bp-exxon-chevron-shell-boeing/) [Fiona Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-hill/) > [Business in Russia was not being done like in the West, with contracts. In Russia, hundreds of millions of dollars were going forward and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-reuben/business-in-russia-was-not-being-done-like-in-the-west-with-contracts/) David Reuben > [Since achieving their independence in 1992, the people of Croatia have built a democratic society based on the rule of law, respect for human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-gallegly/since-achieving-their-independence-in-1992-the-people-of-croatia-have/) [Elton Gallegly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-gallegly/) > [It remains to be seen, for example whether China can continue to develop as a market economy while still retaining an authoritarian communist political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dicken/it-remains-to-be-seen-for-example-whether-china-can-continue-to/) [Peter Dicken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dicken/) > [Everywhere, and at all times, economic progress has meant far more to the poor than to the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/everywhere-and-at-all-times-economic-progress-has-meant-far-more-to/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [What most people really object to when they object to a free market is that it is so hard for them to shape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/what-most-people-really-object-to-when-they-object-to-a-free-market/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Nobody spends somebody else's money as carefully as he spends his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/nobody-spends-somebody-else-s-money-as-carefully-as-he-spends-his-own/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The stock market and economy are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-stock-market-and-economy-are-two-different-things/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Nobody spends somebody else's money as carefully as he spends his own. Nobody uses somebody else's resources as carefully as he uses his own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/nobody-spends-somebody-else-s-money-as-carefully-as-he-spends-his-own-2/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [ We understand that most of the middle class doesn't know what to do, doesn't feel like they have economic progress, and \[Hillary Clinton\] goes,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/we-understand-that-most-of-the-middle-class-doesn-t-know-what-to-do/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Capitalism as a social order and as a creed is the expression of the belief in economic progress as leading toward the freedom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/capitalism-as-a-social-order-and-as-a-creed-is-the-expression-of-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The Office of Community Development & Rural Prosperity marks a crucial step in driving economic progress across our entire state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/the-office-of-community-development-rural-prosperity-marks-a-crucial/) [Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/) > [If economic progress is not translated into better quality of life and respect for citizens' rights, we will witness more Tahrir Squares in Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/if-economic-progress-is-not-translated-into-better-quality-of-life/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) ## More by Milton Friedman > [The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-solution-to-a-problem-is-usually-as-bad-as-the-problem/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I believe the role that people like myself have played in the transformation of public opinion has been by persistently presenting a different point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-believe-the-role-that-people-like-myself-have-played-in-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [To really understand something you've got to reduce it to its principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/to-really-understand-something-you-ve-got-to-reduce-it-to-its/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is a mark of how far we have gone on the road to serfdom that government allocation and rationing of oil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-a-mark-of-how-far-we-have-gone-on-the-road-to-serfdom-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“The people in one district can choose not to reelect their member of Congress, but that will not change the composition of the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-people-in-one-district-can-choose-not-to-reelect-their-member-of/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/when-you-have-a-time-of-crisis-what-happens-depends-on-what-ideas-are/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The government doesn't have any money. The only power it has is to take from some and give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-doesn-t-have-any-money-the-only-power-it-has-is-to/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [What would the people who sold us goods do with the money? They'd get dollars. What would they do with the dollars? Eat them?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/what-would-the-people-who-sold-us-goods-do-with-the-money-they-d-get/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/world-trade-depends-on-differences-among-countries-not-similarities/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that-doesn-t-run-on-greed-you-think/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Well first of all, tell me, is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/well-first-of-all-tell-me-is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I think almost every economist would agree that government gets itself in trouble when it tries to interfere with voluntary behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-think-almost-every-economist-would-agree-that-government-gets/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is most attractive about the US to people and countries with wealth is that it can provide security, insurance really, against political instability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-most-attractive-about-the-us-to-people-and-countries-with/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Hong Kong is the bellwether. If the Chinese stick to their agreement to let Hong Kong go its own path, then China will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/hong-kong-is-the-bellwether-if-the-chinese-stick-to-their-agreement/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Explore all 444 Milton Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## More China quotes > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Language is so specific to art, all the way to the past in China. Previously, people were not allowed to include various regional dialects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-zhangke/language-is-so-specific-to-art-all-the-way-to-the-past-in-china/) [Jia Zhangke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-zhangke/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [India may be overtaking China as the world's most polluted country. Even now, which country is worse depends on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/india-may-be-overtaking-china-as-the-world-s-most-polluted-country/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The remarkable thing about the Chinese is that they've operated differently than the Russians, the Iranians, and the North Koreans. By and large, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-remarkable-thing-about-the-chinese-is-that-they-ve-operated/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) [Browse all 3,827 China quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "China has seen a great deal of economic progress. It's certainly rather of a miracle. The growing role of the market in the economy will force China to open up its political system over time and to move toward a more democratic society. 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