Let's talk about that famous Chinese productivity. Studying 26 hours a day, striving for constant self betterment, and generally making Americans look lazy all come to mind. Are you ready for this? It's a myth. Or at least from what I have observed myself. But if you come to China for a week, you would probably think that I am crazy--the library is packed, roads are repaired around the clock, people study physics in middle school. But then you live with a Chinese roommate and discover that his behavior can mostly be characterized as lazy. For example, he just let his alarm ring for two minutes because he didn't want to get out of bed.

So what is actually going on? Once again, I argue that it is China's tremendous population pressure. The sheer number of people creates the most ridiculous Prisoners' dilemma (link explains it) that ever was. So when a Chinese person has something to lose, they instantly become extroadinarily dedicated. They'll study all night, operate a jack hammer all night, because they know that if they don't the next person will and will take their opportunity or money. But if their position is relatively secure, ie all of the American students' roommates, they suddenly revert to less than maniacal workers.

As for the packed library, it's worth mentioning that it's a school of 20,000 and the study room holds at most 200. So really, only .5% of the students need to appear studious on any given day!