News Analysis
The phenomenon of “involution,” or “nei juan”—a Chinese buzzword meaning “inward curl” that describes intense competition to survive ongoing socioeconomic woes in mainland China—has rapidly rippled over Hong Kong.
‘Involution’ Engulfs Hong Kong: The Triple Impact of Real Estate Debt, Talent Mismatch, and Consumption Outflow
Hong Kong is grappling with a severe real estate crisis and economic downturn.
A woman pushes a cart with cardboard boxes in front of a vacant shop with posters of rental advertisements in the Kowloon district of Hong Kong on July 13, 2018. Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images
Michael Ku
Author