Casino Capitalism, Society and Politics in China’s Macau

Casino Capitalism, Society and Politics in China’s Macau
Author: Sonny Shiu-Hing Lo
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2020-07-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 1527557111

This book explores the characteristics of casino capitalism in Macau under Chinese sovereignty and administration. It argues that casino capitalism propelled the region’s economic prosperity and social stability in the period starting from the internationalization of the casino industry in 2002 to the end of 2019. However, casino capitalism also exacerbated the income gap between the rich and the poor. To tackle income inequality, the Macau developmental state combined casino capitalism with social welfarism. The region’s developmental state has been characterized by its relatively decisive leadership, its autonomy from the capitalist and working classes, and a comparatively weak civil society. China has encouraged Macau to shift from its overdependence on casino capitalism to economic diversification and integration with the Greater Bay Area. However, given Macau’s long-standing and profound dependence on casino capitalism, the path of economic diversification is destined to be long and difficult. As this book also argues, the Macau model of “one country, two systems” is a unique one which cannot be easily transplanted to Hong Kong, where the overdeveloped politics and assertive civil society are a far cry from Macau’s frozen politics and quiescent society.

Casino Capitalism, Society and Politics in Chinaâ (Tm)S Macao

Casino Capitalism, Society and Politics in Chinaâ (Tm)S Macao
Author: Sonny Shiu-Hing Lo
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2020-10
Genre:
ISBN: 9781527555860

This book explores the characteristics of casino capitalism in Macau under Chinese sovereignty and administration. It argues that casino capitalism propelled regionâ (TM)s economic prosperity and social stability in the period starting from the internationalization of the casino industry in 2002 to the end of 2019. However, casino capitalism also exacerbated the income gap between the rich and the poor. To tackle income inequality, the Macau developmental state combined casino capitalism with social welfarism. The regionâ (TM)s developmental state has been characterized by its relatively decisive leadership, its autonomy from the capitalist and working classes, and a comparatively weak civil society. China has encouraged Macau to shift from its overdependence on casino capitalism to economic diversification and integration with the Greater Bay Area. However, given Macauâ (TM)s long-standing and profound dependence on casino capitalism, the path of economic diversification is destined to be long and difficult. As this book also argues, the Macau model of â oeone country, two systemsâ is a unique one which cannot be easily transplanted to Hong Kong, where the overdeveloped politics and assertive civil society are a far cry from Macauâ (TM)s frozen politics and quiescent society.

Betting on Macau

Betting on Macau
Author: Tim Simpson
Publisher: U of Minnesota Press
Total Pages: 378
Release: 2023-04-11
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1452969884

A comprehensive look into how Macau’s recent decades of gambling-related growth produced one of the wealthiest territories on the planet Betting on Macau delves into the radical transformation of what was formerly the last remaining European territory in Asia, returned to the People’s Republic of China in 1999 after nearly half a millennium of Portuguese rule. Examining the unprecedented scale of its development and its key role in China’s economic revolution, Tim Simpson follows Macau’s emergence from historical obscurity to become the most profitable casino gaming locale in the world. Identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and renowned for its unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese colonial-era architecture, contemporary Macau has metamorphosed into a surreal, hypermodern urban landscape augmented by massive casino megaresorts, including two of the world’s largest buildings. Simpson situates Macau’s origins as a strategic trading port and its ensuing history alongside the emergence of the global capitalist system, charting the massive influx of foreign investment, construction, and tourism in the past two decades that helped generate the territory’s enormous wealth. Presented through a cross section of postcolonial studies and social theory with extensive insight into the global gambling industry, Betting on Macau uncovers the various roots of the territory’s lucrative casino capitalism. In turn, its trenchant analysis provides a distinctive view into China’s broader project of urbanization, its post-Mao economic reforms, and the continued rise of its consumer culture.

China's Macao Transformed

China's Macao Transformed
Author: Eilo W.Y.YU
Publisher: City University of HK Press
Total Pages: 521
Release: 2014-10-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 962937207X

The return of Macao from the Portuguese administration to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1999 marks the beginning of its transformation in the 21st century. Macao was confronted with various issues concerning then existing political system, economic downturn and gangland violence during the transition period. Beijing put Macao under the "One country, Two Systems" and implemented a wide variety of measures in order to restore its law and order as well as to recover its tourism dependent economy. Gradually, Macao transformed itself to "Las Vegas of the East". This volume of 18 essays highlights the key dimensions of Macao's remarkable "One country, Two Systems" actualisation experience in its first 15 years, and discusses how Macao transformed and what challenges it encountered during its post-handover transformation. The volume has several focuses. It first investigates the political and electoral issues in a critical manner─ post-handover Macao suffered from maladministration and limited democratization, and the chief executives selected lacked representativeness due to restricted public participation in the electoral process. Overall speaking, the government lacked legitimacy and popular support. From a socio-economic point of view, this book looks into the business model in running Macao's casinos and the emerging culture of mass participation and youth participation in political affairs. The education reformation and changes in civic identity of local Macao Chinese are also addressed. Finally, the volume looks into how post-handover Macao relates itself in the international politics affair.

Political Economy of Macao since 1999

Political Economy of Macao since 1999
Author: Yufan Hao
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 282
Release: 2017-04-11
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 981103138X

This book takes a comprehensive look at the governance and civil society of Macao, the shadowy mecca of gambling in Asia, and the reforms, changes, and social movements which are challenging that reputation today. Thanks to the rapid expansion of the local casino industry, Macao has experienced spectacular economic growth since it returned to Chinese rule in 1999. Following double-digit rates of economic growth between 2002 and 2013, Macao has become one of the wealthiest regions in Asia, with GDP per capita rising from USD$14,258 in 2001 to USD$89,333 in 2014. However, as the casino industry has overshadowed all other sectors of the local economy, it has not only made Macao’s economy highly vulnerable and difficult to sustain, but has also aroused increasing social discontent. The authors lay out a comprehensive and well-argued discussion of the dilemma of the economic monoculture, and strategies by which to overcome it, in the process producing a book that will be of profound interest to scholars of greater China, students of political economy, and travelers to Macao.

Macau 20 Years after the Handover

Macau 20 Years after the Handover
Author: Meng U Ieong
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2020-05-25
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 100008213X

This book outlines the major social and political changes in the city of Macau during its first 20 years under the "One Country, Two Systems" arrangement with Mainland China. Despite the long-standing image of Macau as Asia’s Las Vegas, it is a city that has changed a great deal since its return to China. Equally, despite this return, it retains a unique social, economic and political character, distinct both from the Mainland of China and from its larger neighbour, Hong Kong. The chapters in this book examine the detail of this uniqueness from a range of perspectives, including the gambling industry, police-society relations, media usage patterns and protest movements. Analysing the state of affairs 20 years after the city’s return to China, they also attempt to anticipate its future trajectory. This is a valuable guide for scholars of Asian, and particularly Chinese, urban politics that will be of interest to academics and students looking to better understand the particularities of Macau.

Corporate Social Responsibility, Casino Capitalism, and the Constitution of Macau

Corporate Social Responsibility, Casino Capitalism, and the Constitution of Macau
Author: Jason Buhi
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2020
Genre:
ISBN:

Macau's competitive foreign investment environment places it at the crossroads of global conceptions and articulations of corporate social responsibility (CSR). With tremendous financial resources at its disposal, including revenues six times those of Las Vegas, the Macau Government has a rare opportunity position itself as a global leader in CSR practice. Nonetheless, systemic challenges such as low levels of public education and political development, the influence of mafia gangs, and high levels of human trafficking, problem gambling, and drug use persist. Although Macau's situs as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ensures that CSR here will take its own form, these issues could be better addressed with open acknowledgement of the problems and improved channeling of local resources. Utilizing Matten and Moon's methodology, this article provides an overview of Macau's CSR repertoires at this important point in local history: on the eve of the expiration of the first concessions granted to foreign operators as well as 20 years into Macau's practice of semi-autonomous government under Chinese administration. This snapshot records how local CSR norms have developed historically, observes a cultural divide in the local conceptualization of CSR objectives between local and foreign operators, and makes a case for the normative basis for enhancement contained within the Macau Basic Law that should underlie directions for the future.

Gambling Dynamism

Gambling Dynamism
Author: Victor Zheng
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 211
Release: 2013-11-29
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3642407498

Four years after the actual implementation of its casino deregulation policy, Macao has surpassed Las Vegas as the world’s top gambling destination in terms of annual turnover. Also, various recent surveys have put Macao at the very top of the list in terms of per capita GDP, as its economy grew shortly after the resumption of Chinese sovereignty. How could a tiny city without any natural resources on the southern coast of China have managed to achieve such a miraculous level of development? This book presents an unparalleled study of Macao’s economic dynamism and its gambling industry not only by merging historical and current developments, but also by presenting solid subjective and objective indicators and evidence. It offers an indispensable resource for students, researchers, and general readers looking to understand Macao’s gambling miracle.

Macau and the Casino Complex

Macau and the Casino Complex
Author: Stefan Al
Publisher: University of Nevada Press
Total Pages: 326
Release: 2018-01-24
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 0874177081

Special Award of the Jury Winner — 2018 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards In only a decade, Macau has exploded from a sleepy backwater to the world’s casino capital. It was bound to happen. Macau, a former Portuguese colony that became a special administrative region within the People’s Republic of China in 1999, was the only place in China where gambling was legal. With a consumer base of 1.3 billion mainland Chinese deprived of casino gambling, and the world’s largest growing consumer class, international corporations rushed in to enter the games. As a result, the casino influx has permanently transformed the Macau peninsula: its ocean reclaimed, hillside excavated, roads congested, air polluted, and glimmering hotel towers tossed into the skyline, dwarfing the 19th century church towers. Essays by a number of experts give a deeper insight on topics ranging from the myth of the Chinese gambler, the role of feng shui in casino design, the city’s struggle with heritage conservation, the politics of land reclamation, and the effect of the casino industry on the public realm. Drawings and photographs in vivid color visualize Macau’s patchwork of distinct urban enclaves: from downtown casinos, their neon-blasting storefronts eclipsing adjacent homes and schools, to the palatial complexes along a new highway, a Las Vegas-style strip. They also reveal how developers go to great lengths to impress the gambler with gimmicks such as fluorescent lighting, botanic gardens, feng shui dragon statues, cast members’ costumes, Chinese art imitations, and crystal chandelier-decked elevators. It is a book that helps readers grasp the complex process of the development of the casino industry and its overall impact on the social and architectural fabric of the first and last colonial enclave in China.

Casino capitalism

Casino capitalism
Author: Susan Strange
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2015-12-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1784996599

A classic in the field of political economy, reissued here with a new, incisive introduction. The global financial crisis that Strange predicted in her work has now taken place, and to a large extent is still happening.