International Investing

China was once the largest economic superpower in the world. This excerpt from The Malay Archipelago by Alfred Russel Wallace could have been written last week:

In the Chinese bazar are hundreds of small shops in which a miscellaneous collection of hardware and dry goods are to be found and where many things are sold wonderfully cheap You may buy gimlets at a penny each white cotton thread at four balls for a half penny and penknives corkscrews gunpowder writing paper and many other articles as cheap or cheaper than you can purchase them in England The shopkeeper is very good natured he will show you every thing he has and does not seem to mind if you buy nothing