Finally, the biggest growth for most companies will come not from first-tier cities like Shanghai and Beijing but from second- and third-tier ones like Dalian, Chengdu and Hefei.

最后，对于大部分公司而言，最大的增长并不会来自于像上海、北京这样的一线城市，而是来自于二、三线城市，像大连、成都和合肥。

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The banks have been busy lending to government, so lending to second-tier companies -- ones which probably need the money most -- has been minimal.

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In those markets, however, Apple has to content with a new breed of smartphone competition that are driving the price points well below the mid- and upper tier ones that Apple tends to compete in.

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But, in an interesting illustration of how modern campaigns by activists against companies can gather momentum, the top-tier companies now complain that lesser ones get away with poor labour practices, and so impede progress in the whole sector.

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