Nevertheless, the fact that Shanghai currently possesses the fifth most expensive office space in the world demonstrates that demand is high and that the prospects for future growth are promising (Tyler A8). Indeed, Pudong, a free export-manufacturing zone described as "the future sight of Shanghai's Manhattan" (Tyler A8) boasts more than twenty factories built or being built with names like Siemens and Hitachi prominent. This area has become particularly attractive to foreign investors and companies because of its tax concessions, duty free imports of raw materials, and cheap labor. Shanghai stands to benefit, too, as it receives ancillary technology and discretionary spending from the workers and executives of the companies represented (Tyler A8). It is conditions like these that have caused at least one analyst to predict that China will be "the richest economy in the world within the next 25 years" (Gilder 372). Shanghai is by no means unique to this growth. Additional foreign investments have continued to pour into other areas of China. For example, the Boeing Company recently announced its intention to "invest $100 million in a plant in Xian China to make tail sections for 737 jetliners" ("Boeing Planning to Invest $100 Million for China Plant." New York Times sct. D4). In addition, E.I. du Pont recently predicted "that its investments and business in China could increase as much as ten times by the end of the century" ("Du Pont Plans Increase In Chinese Investment." New York Times, sct. D2). Tellingly, du Pont's chairman attributed the company's negotiations of "as many as 28 new projects in China" to the fact "that the country's financial changes, improved infrastructure and rising disposable income has encouraged the company to expand its business activities" (Du Pont" pg. 23). The Chinese government has made conscientious attempts to promote the strength of the country's economy while protecting its citizens. Just a few weeks...
