My Take | Will Musk make US government a lean, mean, effective machine?
Instead of enhancing efficiency, new advisory unit is likely to push radical deregulation and slash manpower required to supervise big industries
Like many mainland Chinese, the dean of public policy at Chinese University’s Shenzhen campus holds a high opinion of Elon Musk. Commenting on the billionaire boss of Tesla and SpaceX, Zheng Yongnian warns a leaner, meaner and more efficient US federal government will ultimately pose a bigger challenge to China.
Musk, who donated tens of millions to Donald Trump’s election campaign, has been tasked as co-head of a new high-powered unit to cut government waste and spending, tackle fraud, reduce headcounts and enhance efficiency.
“I personally think we should not underestimate the institutional reforms prioritised by figures like Musk,” Zheng said.
“In the medium to long term, the greatest pressure on China may come from changes within the US.”
The success of the federal government overhaul would enable the US to “develop a new, more competitive system”, Zheng said, calling it a form of “state capitalism with American characteristics”.
I am not so sure. Musk will probably be the least of China’s worries, considering some of the fanatical war hawks Trump has nominated to key positions in foreign policy and national security.
It seems the distinguished scholar is projecting Chinese communist ideology and practice about state efficiency and responsiveness to the Trump-Musk project.
