Great Nation, Great City
Drawing lessons from the EU debt crisis, *Great Nation, Great City* explores China’s unique advantages as a large, unified nation—from its massive integrated market that fuels innovation and strategic industries to its ability to efficiently provide public goods. However, the book argues these strengths are undermined by systemic barriers: rigid hukou policies restricting labor mobility, misallocated land resources, and local protectionism splitting the national market. These distortions lead to widening regional gaps, underdeveloped urbanization, and wasted economic potential. Lu Ming advocates aligning policies with market principles: removing cross-regional factor flow barriers, embracing urban agglomeration to achieve 'balance through concentration,' and reforming public services for equal resident access. By learning from Europe’s failures and global urban successes, the book outlines a path to unlock China’s mega-nation growth and build inclusive, efficient great cities.