For much of the twentieth century, China was a poor communist country. But over the past twenty-five years, 400 million people in China have escaped the dire poverty of living on less than $1 a day. Average real incomes have increased 440%. The city of Shanghai now stands as a dramatic symbol of the fastest growing major economy in world history. Hundreds of thousands of people work in skyscrapers, some among the tallest in the world. Privately owned designer boutiques line the city's streets.

It would seem that Communist China is using free trade to reinvent itself--but not entirely. In The People's Economy, we meet Shi Hai and his employees at internet gaming company Snail Game. They are navigating the delicate path between China's cultural traditions and their bold, new ideas. China still faces many challenges, including widespread poverty in the countryside. One important question remains unanswered: Will China's new economic freedoms lead to political freedom for the Chinese people?