An end to the era of double-digit growth

There was a time when nobody questioned China's double-digit growth, not even in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008.

But at a recent roundtable of economists and business commentators sponsored by the Shanghai University of Economics and Finance, that era appeared to be over as serious questions were raised about how fast the Chinese economy can continue to grow and for how long.

Attendees argued that a period of transition from export-led to consumer-led growth has begun involving an inevitable economic slowdown, and said the most effective measure the government could take would be to launch more government-led capital investment projects.