China has taken a series of measures this year to cool down development in the domestic real-estate market, including curbing lending and raising mortgage rates. But the measures have failed to adequately check property market growth, and fears of a bubble persist. In this cartoon, printed in China Daily on December 9 and posted by artist Luo Jie (罗杰) to his QQ blog, a black-suited man labeled “Chinese government” spanks a property developer over his knee. The developer seems bored and unaffected, glancing all the time at his watch. The explanation on the cartoon reads: “The Chinese government’s re-adjustment policies for the property sector have dealt property developers a blow on the rear, but greater strength is still required.”


David Bandurski

CMP Director

Latest Articles