Does China have a problem with the gender imbalance? If so, how big of problem?

Economics at work! Compare this article from the BBC (echoing what I believe to be the ‘general’- rather gloomy!- perspective on China’s gender imbalance) and the viewpoints of economists Gary Becker and Richard Posner, who start from discussing whether there is any valid case for forbidding the ‘sex selection’ practice, but end up discussing a series of wider implications.
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Nu inca, nu in guvernul acesta…

Citesc pe Hotnews. Theodor Paleologu e categoric cel mai calificat pentru functia aceasta (si in cativa ani- depinzand desigur de evolutia dumnealui, ie. inca nu e sigur ca nu ar exista volatilitate…- mult peste functia aceasta)- si nu doar pentru ca e ‘tanar, cunoscut si cu un trecut “curat” ‘ (in particular, ca stil diplomatic, spontaneitate, realism etc.,
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Russian politics: chess or judo?

This is an interesting weekend interview in the WSJ with Garry Kasparov, who is apparently taking very seriously his role as ‘moderator’ for the “Other Russia” coalition (moderator so far; as the editor notes, Kasparov does not necessarily exclude representing the “Other Russia” as its presidential candidate, with hopes of checkmating Putin).
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