Amidst the passage of Obama's major economic reforms and the country's continued economic turmoil, was a transition process that began smooth but quickly turned rocky after embarrassing revelations regarding several of the president's appointees.

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While China is making this transition, economic statistics coming out of the country may be weaker than the world has been accustomed to, but if the reforms are successful, China will experience a new round of growth that will be more sustainable because of its diversity.

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Within the country, however, criticism of the prevailing economic model has not dissipated with the transition to a new government.

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