The Rise of the Chinese Consumer Theory and Evidence

Jonathan Garner and his colleagues at Credit Suisse First Boston argue that by 2014 the Chinese consumer will likely have displaced the US consumer as the engine of growth in the global economy. Strong trend economic growth over the cycle, a rise in the consumption to GDP ratio and steady real exchange rate appreciation should lead to a quadrupling in China's share of global consumption spending.

JONATHAN GARNER is a Managing Director of Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB), Global Strategist, Global Co-ordinator of China research, and Head of Global Emerging Market Equity Strategy. Mr. Garner joined CSFB in November 2000 when the Firm merged with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) where he was Head of International Equity Strategy. Prior to joining DLJ in March 2000, he worked for Robert Fleming Securities as Head of Global Emerging Market Strategy & Economics. He was a faculty member in the Economics Department of the London School of Economics for four years in the early 1990s and has worked as a consultant to the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank. Mr. Garner received his M.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics and his M.A. Hons. in Politics, Philosophy & Economics (First Class) from Oxford University. He is married with five children and lives in the United Kingdom.