Since Mao's death China has greatly strengthened its contacts with Western industrialized states. This year the People's Republic has concluded trade agreements with Japan and the European Community, amongst others. All these activities suggest that China's economic policy is set on a new course.

The Federal Republic of Germany is presently experiencing the deepest and longest recession in its history. The situation is characterised by high and rising unemployment figures, slowing growth, a steep increase in the number of bankruptcies in the business sector as well as by a rapidly rising...

The island's rapid industrialisation over the past decade and its development as the main trade and financial centre of South-East Asia, supported by a phenomenal growth in tourism, constitute yet another Asian economic miracle.

After hopes of an international economic recovery had been repeatedly dashed during a slump period lasting almost three years, 1983 proved to be the long-awaited turnaround year for the world economy. In fact, the upswing came earlier and with greater momentum than had initially been forecast at...