China’s president and party chief since 2002, Hu Jintao, appears to have selected Xi Jinping as his successor. The transition should occur over the next 2 to 3 years. Both men are trained as engineers, as are most of the leaders in China.
The affable Mr. Xi, who’s wife is a popular folk singer, is pictured below.

I hadn’t known that engineers run China, though it makes sense. The focus on efficiency and the concurrent mishandling of people tends to support the generalization that engineers are good with numbers and not so much with people. The amazing economic growth of China clearly has been guided with a focus on efficiency, with an attitude of maximizing exports and minimizing consumption. As expected, this results in great financial position and less than happy citizens.

I understand this striving to maximize efficiency, using that principle as a cornerstone for my business and life. I also understand the negative consequences to forgetting about people and their feelings and needs.

Of course, the generalization about engineers isn’t completely true. All generalizations are wrong (including this one), but there is usually some truth to be found.

When our son Lex was in engineering school, he realized that his geeky high school self was now a college engineering student with much more personality than most of the other engineering students. I shared with him the old proverb, “In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.”

So, when you read the stories about China, remember that engineers run their government. It should help you gain a better understanding.