China Shuts Down Its Economic Data

Experts and economic institutions find that China's enterprise debt to gross domestic product ratio is the highest in the world, with studies suggesting that signs of the financial crisis have already appeared in the world's second-largest economy. STR/AFP/Getty Images

Commentary

There is a social contract of sorts among all governments of the world to share economic data on prevailing conditions. Behind that practice is a collegial contest to see which nation has the healthiest system, which, in turn, serves the capital markets by helping to direct resources where they are needed.