That’s the message of a National Interest piece by an American who teaches at a Chinese university. Chinese universities, he observes, are beset with political interference that keeps them from doing much to spark thought and creativity among students.

No doubt he’s right, but even if Chinese universities were to abruptly change and become as good at creating “human capital” as the best of ours (and we know that many American students go through their college years without increasing theirs much), that still wouldn’t be a reason to worry. It doesn’t help Americans for the Chinese to remain backward as a result of their still highly controlled system.

Hat tip: Jeff Martineau