Benchmark
How China's Economy Suffers When It Tries to Cut Pollution
While China is boosting infrastructure spending, it is also keen to make a good impression, even at an increasing economic cost
Traffic passes the China Central Television (CCTV) headquarters, right, and other commercial buildings in the central business district in Beijing, China.
Brent Lewin/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Sometimes, Chinese policy making seems to tug the economy in different directions.
Take the past week. Premier Li Keqiang paved the way for fresh spending to lay drainpipes across the country's cities, a move that will help ensure the economy hits the annual expansion target of about 7 percent. That kind of fiscal spending is exactly the type of stimulatory action that analysts expect from the government as growth slows.