Comparing the rate of political change in China from 1988 - 1998 to the rate of change in 2000 - 2010 it's clearly slowed down.  As to corruption I can only suggest you research the topic both from a historical perspective and a modern business one.  Read up on how Google local competitor has benefited from close government ties and multiply that by every significant business in China. Look at the percentage of multi millionaires with close family connections to government and suggest corruption is not a major issue.<p>China has had just as long to grow economically as Japan and South Korea.  Yet, only by ignoring the vast difference in population sizes are they in any way comparable from an economic standpoint.  Suggesting that a non "free-market" system is a better approach when it's provided such poor returns is ignoring history.