The "ghost city" thing is an outdated myth. China built up development for long term plans in anticipation of future demand, intending for them to be underpopulated in the short term.

Bloomberg - China's Ghost Cities Are Finally Stirring To Life After Years Of Empty Streets

60 minutes ran a story in 2013 using the Zhengzhou New Area as an example of a "ghost city." Today, it's population is 1.3 million.

This is one of the limitations of capitalism and that perspective, that relies solely on market signals to determine what to build when. If there's an undeveloped region, there's not going to be a lot of people want to live there. But if you build up the infrastructure, it creates demand. China still has a very large rural population and is trending towards urbanization.

Tbh, China has had a huge debt and property crisis the past few years. The US Republicans like to complain about debt (which they primarily cause, but that’s a different discussion) but China’s debt to GDP ratio is 3 times higher than the US.

Source? The only thing I could find similar to that claim was this which lists China's total public and private debt at 300% GDP. The same figure for the US is 265% GDP. Comparing only central/federal government debt, the IMF lists China's at 88% GDP and US at 120% GDP.

[–] Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com -1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I hate that take, that dictators have an edge over democracy just because one thing worked out. Like the soviet union (it was high oil prices that made half of it possible, not the 5 year gosplans).

Democracies have tools too and do invest in underpopulated areas and so on, for example Airbus was "put" in Toulouse (partly of course) and it too took like 10 years before things got rolling.

So think about when the dictatorial regime decides something bad (like going to war or imprisoning people just because they might be critical thinkers) before jumping on the "Dictators build roads fast!!" (<= that was mustache man BTW) idea.

Bet russians are regretting their dictator right now, getting parking tickets because they line up in too long lines to get gas. Dictator solutions to people's problems...

[–] Objection@lemmy.ml 1 points 55 minutes ago

I hate that take, that dictators have an edge over democracy just because one thing worked out.

I'm just comparing central planning vs free markets. What does that have to do with dictatorships?

[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world 5 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

I traveled outside of Beijing about 2 years ago and I passed through a ghost city. I could see, literally, from horizon to horizon nothing but the same exact style apartment buildings and construction cranes in the distance. In the streets though, nothing. You know if a unit is occupied because there will be an AC unit in the window and I estimated about 5% of the units were occupied. I could count the number of people I saw on one hand.

[–] Objection@lemmy.ml 2 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

construction cranes in the distance

So it sounds like it was still early in development. As I said, they're planned to be underpopulated at first because they are built in anticipation of demand rather than in response to it. Other areas that have been reported on as "ghost cities" have since been populated.

[–] Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 6 hours ago

That feels like a tucked on excuse, it's not like houses won't deteriorate if you leave them uninhabited? Why not build to demand, when it takes like 2 years to construct, not 10?