Global Impacts of China's Building Boom

Impressive economic growth and preparations to host the 2008 Olympics in Beijing are leading to soaring real estate prices that have some analysts predicting a bubble that could quickly burst. The country's fortunes have certainly changed in recent years. "Economists now see China as the world's second-biggest engine stimulating global economic growth, behind only the U.S. It is the world's fourth-largest trading power and the fastest-growing major national economy." But the spectacular speed of growth, particularly with respect to new development projects, needs to be carefully controlled.