By Invitation | Chinese aspirations

Yu Hua on why young Chinese no longer want to work for private firms

In today’s China stability trumps enterprise, argues the novelist

Illustrated portrait of Yu Hua
Illustration: Dan Williams

WHAT LIES at the far reaches of the universe? This is a question that science has yet to answer, but most young people in China today already have an answer. According to them, at the end of the universe is not the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy or the Canes Venatici Constellation, but a government job.

Explore more

From the April 6th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

Discover more

An illustration of Julius Maada, Lazarus Chakwera and Andry Rajoelina.

Three presidents on the partnerships that can at last transform Africa

Success teeters on bold, stable funding, say Julius Maada Bio, Lazarus Chakwera and Andry Rajoelina 

Assisted-dying advocates’ claims of freedom have it backward, says Danny Kruger

One of a pair of essays in which members of Parliament argue their cases


My assisted-dying bill safely solves a grave injustice, says Kim Leadbeater

One of a pair of essays in which members of Parliament argue their cases


“Middle powers” can thrive in the age of AI, says Eric Schmidt

Google’s former chief executive has a playbook for riding out the revolution

Polls get elections wrong. So use Google, says Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

The data scientist argues that stronger predictions lie in what people search for

War in Ukraine may only intensify under Trump, says Dmytro Kuleba

The country’s former foreign minister explains the powderkeg that is three leaders in a cannot-lose standoff



Discover more

A girl in China doing homework

Podcast Drum Tower

Inside China’s disciplinary centres for “deviant” youth

Our weekly podcast on China. This week: what happens when young Chinese challenge the social conservatism of their parents?

An employee works at the grain reserve warehouse of a soybean processing enterprise

Trump, trade and feeding China’s pigs

As a trade war looms, China looks to cut its reliance on America


A little black figure struggles to open a door in the back of Xi Jinping's head.

Helping America’s hawks get inside the head of Xi Jinping

China’s leader is a risk-taker. How far will he go in confronting America?


From Nixon to China, to Trump to Tehran

Iran is weak. For America’s next president that creates an opportunity

Is China really a nation of slackers?

A new survey raises the question

The World Ahead Business in 2025

To see the cars of the future, look at China’s electric vehicles

With their surprising and innovative features, they are streets ahead