Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 1430 From Chicago to New York (First update, please subscribe)
Several passers-by were standing by the newsstand, browsing newspapers and magazines. When the newspaper seller saw some passers-by passing by, he immediately shouted:

"Look, Li Yian is visiting Europe and once again ignores the United States. He expressed his dissatisfaction to Kennedy."

The newspaper seller's shout made Professor Milton Friedman stunned for a moment. As a professor of economics, he was of course concerned about politics and was extremely concerned about the second largest economy in the Western world.

When studying the economic model and economic growth miracle there, it is natural to also notice the cooling of relations between the two countries.

When he entered the office, his assistant Sun Gongen had already arrived. He was from there and was a very smart guy. In fact, in the past few years, almost one-third of Professor Friedman's students were from Southeast Asia.

"Professor, these are the magazines, newspapers, and letters that just arrived."

Sun Gongen placed a stack of books and periodicals on his desk, then pointed to the cover of Time magazine and said:
"Professor, what do you think?"

After taking a look at the Oriental man on the cover of the magazine, Li Yian’s European trip, Professor Friedman said directly:

"Is it economic or political? It has no impact at all. It's all about face."

Professor Friedman said casually:

"Kennedy always feels embarrassed when he meets someone younger and more successful than him, so, to a certain extent, he is unwilling to deal with your Excellency because..."

After a brief pause, Professor Friedman said:

"Your economy is more successful! Sun, this is an unavoidable fact. If Washington invites him to visit, it will inevitably cause comparisons in the public opinion circle. For Kennedy, this is what he does not want to see!"

Although he was surprised that the president also cared about face, the professor's words made Sun Gongen curious and said:

"Professor, you think our economy is more successful, right?"

"Sun, this is true. Moreover, I have always been very curious about your economic development. Not only am I curious, but the entire economics community is very curious. To a certain extent, your economy is influenced by Keynesianism, but it does not ignore money supply. On the other hand, your economy is also influenced by the Soviet planned economic model, but it emphasizes the role of the market."

When talking about the economy there, Professor Friedman's tone was full of interest. In fact, in the past few years, he not only discussed the local economy with students from there, but also visited Nanyang University and Tungning University many times as a visiting scholar, and conducted local investigations in the form of academic exchanges.

"Your economic model, to a large extent, has absorbed the advantages of various economic theories while minimizing their disadvantages. Of course, this is also related to your leadership team, especially him..."

Professor Friedman pointed to the man on the magazine cover and said:
"He has always been unafraid of success."

“Not blinded by success?”

Sun Gongen obviously didn't expect the professor to say that.

"Yes, the most difficult thing for people to overcome is being deceived by the illusion of success, especially politicians like this. From Germany to the Soviet Union and to many other countries, people who hold absolute power are easily deceived by the illusion of success after they achieve success. This is an extremely fatal phenomenon!"

Friedman, an expert in economics, once studied the economic models of those countries. The most important thing behind the success of those models is the will of the leader.

However, Professor Friedman did not go into detail on this topic, but simply said a few words and then said:

"So, if there is a chance, I would like to meet him and talk about some economic issues. In fact, I have a hunch that he is an economic expert."

After hearing what the professor said, Sun Gongen said:
"Professor, if you are interested in our economic model, you might as well go to New York."

"New York?"

Professor Friedman asked curiously:
"Is there anything there?"

Sun Gongen answered truthfully:
"Professor, there is a New York liaison office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. You know, in the eyes of many people, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has made our economy take off..."

"Source, Sun..."

Professor Friedman said:

"They made all the industrial policies. Now, you book us a ticket immediately and we're going to New York!"

It's a train ticket, not an air ticket!
This is because of the emergence of high-speed rail. During the Eisenhower era, the United States introduced high-speed rail technology. After years of hard work, it finally built the first and currently only high-speed rail - the Chicago to New York high-speed rail.

After the high-speed railway was completed, it immediately changed the mode of transportation between Chicago and New York.

"Sun, before this high-speed railway was opened, the best train here was the 'Tycoon Train', also known as the 20th Century Express. At that time, that luxury train was more like a commuter train for celebrities between New York and Chicago. Elites from all industries were loyal passengers of that train."

Sitting in the second-class carriage, Professor Friedman introduced to his students:
"At that time, after getting on the bus in downtown Manhattan, you can enjoy the scenery of the Hudson River, taste cocktails, have dinner, and have a good sleep in the sightseeing bus. When you wake up, you will be in Chicago. You will get on the bus in New York at 8 pm and arrive in Chicago at 45:14 am the next morning... a total of 45 hours and minutes!"

Professor Friedman couldn't help but recall his past experiences on the "Tycoon Train", when entering the train was like attending a cocktail party.

"It only takes four and a half hours now, Professor!" Sun Gongen said proudly:

"The bullet train, our invention..."

"Yes, it only takes 4 and a half hours. It was from that time that Chicago and New York became more closely connected. Even jet airliners cannot replace it. It can operate normally even in the worst weather."

This is its advantage. Chicago and New York are the most prosperous cities in the United States. A large number of industry elites travel between the two cities every day. Some even live in Chicago, work in New York, or vice versa.

Now, thanks to high-speed rail, they can even commute between the two places on a daily basis.

"It is thanks to the high-speed railway that the east coast has been further connected and integrated. Unfortunately, until now, the second high-speed railway is still under planning."

"In terms of construction efficiency, the Western world is far inferior to the Soviet Union, professor."

Sun Gongen said:
"I heard that the Soviets planned to connect all of Eastern Europe with high-speed rail, and now they have connected several countries."

Professor Friedman smiled and said:

"'Goteski', huh?"

This is how the West describes the Soviet Union's high-speed trains as a copy of the "bullet train".

"However, their construction speed is very fast, even faster than yours."

While the two were chatting, the high-speed train had already left the station and quickly accelerated to 250 kilometers per hour, heading towards New York.

Just a few hours later, at dinner time, they arrived in New York and met with Director Angell of the office.

After hearing about Professor Milton Friedman's visit, Angle, who has always been very interested in the free economic model, immediately changed his original plan and invited Professor Friedman to dinner to talk about economics with him. After all, the professor's reputation in the economics community is well known. In his own works, he challenged the views of the Keynesian school and criticized them for ignoring the importance of money supply and financial policies to economic cycles and inflation.

While discussing academic issues in economics, they naturally talked about themselves, the "Equator Miracle" and the economic model there.

“You have not fully followed the principles of the market economy, or in other words, the free economy.”

Professor Friedman looked at the official from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in front of him and said:
"More often than not, you emphasize official-led investment and even official industrial control! This is more in line with the characteristics of a market economy."

"Yes, that's right!"

As an old man from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Angle said:

"In the process of promoting economic development, we did not blindly learn from the Western free economy. From the perspective of industrial policy, we insisted on direct investment in basic industries such as industry, energy, transportation, finance, and electricity. Important sectors are in the hands of national enterprises and corporate enterprises, but..."

Angel slightly emphasized his tone and said:

"We also encourage the development of the private economy. Immigrants who have skills and projects can get official help as long as they invest in designated areas, and they can also enjoy substantial tax breaks. It is these measures that effectively promote the development of the private economy."

"Indeed!"

Professor Friedman nodded in agreement and said:
“In fact, all of this is the reason for your success. It may seem like a start-up place, but in fact it is a place without any historical baggage. It has inherited the talents, technology, management experience and governance vision of Europe and the United States. You don’t even need to do experiments. You can generate economic benefits right away.

As a result, your industrial production started quickly, and various industries such as mineral development, chemical industry, heavy industry, textile, automobile, shipbuilding, and aircraft manufacturing were quickly established. The production organization form was also eclectic. In the early stages of development, based on your relatively abundant labor force, you even carried out processing trade with imported materials, and then quickly promoted industrial upgrading.

Over the past decade or so, your industrial economy has developed at an astonishing speed, which has driven the positive cycle of economic development in the entire country. Through the continuous upgrading of the industry, it has finally achieved the "Equatorial Miracle."

After making this assertion, Professor Friedman added:

"I think this is the fundamental reason for the 'Equatorial Miracle'."

Listening to the professor's words, Angel was surprised at first, and then he exclaimed:

"Oh, professor, you are worthy of being a professor. No wonder you suggested sending more economics students to Chicago. It's because of you, the professor!"

"what?"

Professor Friedman was stunned and asked in confusion:
"What did you say?"

In response to the professor's curiosity, Angel answered truthfully:
"Many people in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry know that you have been paying attention to your theories, and they also highly respect your economic theories."

(End of this chapter)