Thinking About ChinaOpinionChina’s 2022 Economy: A Paper Dragon Burning?Beijing will struggle to manage an economic downturn that most assuredly is getting worseSavePrintVehicles make their way along a busy road past the Jing'an Temple in Shanghai on Oct. 14, 2021. Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty ImagesJames Gorrie1/14/2022|Updated: 1/17/2022CommentaryHow will China’s economy perform in 2022?We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.Share this articleLeave a commentJames GorrieAuthorJames Gorrie is the author of the 2013 book “The China Crisis” and discusses current events and China on his YouTube Podcast, The Banana Republican. Author’s Selected ArticlesThe Big Choice: Western Europe Must Decide Between US Tariffs and Chinese Theft at ScaleFeb 11, 2026The AI Factor Behind Trump’s Power Play on China’s Oil SuppliersJan 23, 2026Greenland Turning Red?Jan 21, 2026Trump Kicking BRICS Out of the AmericasJan 15, 2026Related TopicsChinaeconomydebt2022