Executive Decisions

It's at times hard to deny that there are advantages to political systems other than bi-partisan democracy. I'm pretty sure this isn't the result of a grass-is-greener effect because there seem to be some pretty real benefits to people. Like jobs:

"Speaking at that site last month, President Obama warned that the United States was falling behind Asia and Europe in high-speed rail construction and other clean energy industries. “Other countries aren’t waiting,” he said. “They want those jobs. China wants those jobs. Germany wants those jobs. They are going after them hard, making the investments required.”

Indeed, the web of superfast trains promises to make China even more economically competitive, connecting this vast country — roughly the same size as the United States — as never before, much as the building of the Interstate highway system increased productivity and reduced costs in America a half-century ago."

Chinese stimulus threw and extra $100 billion at the project, so that's on top of whatever the baseline budget was when the it was drawn up in 2004, or 12.5% of our stimulus +/- a bit. (well, +). Sounds like something we could have been doing with our money. (Well this along with lump sum transfers to state and local governments.) Is centralized leadership beneficial? Well, looks like it gives you jobs and fearless monetary policy*:

"The step, announced late Friday, came earlier than most economists had expected and was aimed at forestalling a rekindling of inflation by controlling a rapid expansion in bank loans."

*net effects not yet determined.

UPDATE: HAHA