Is the implementation of outsourced Chinese manufacturing a technology? Will it evolve like one? Are we nearing the top of the initial boom before the lesson-learning begins?

Here is a list of China’s dangerous exports for 2007. Just imagine what kind of defunct items they consume domestically.

When I was buying sunscreen, my primary requirement was that it didn’t include “skin whitening” elements containing mercury. Short term greed and corner cutting are reality when building brand equity (not to mention social harmony) is not a goal of managers. Now with the toothpaste fiasco and the execution of the food safety chief, curbing efforts are starting to appear in what may signal a hard landing.

It reminds me of the idea that the Editor-at-Large of Wired magazine, Chris Anderson, spoke about at ted talks. Technologies have an initial bubble, where hype runs high and expected future returns are many multiples beyond the present. The China penenomen is, I beleive, reaching the top of this first buble before a period of restrictions, rethinking and lesson learning. Then the long term growth path will begin.

By the way, the FDA’s list of all the potentially hazardous toothpastes here.