Original work by Luca Ferrara.

The Intentional Life.

A collection of stories, essays, images, and videos on a range of subjects that are close and dear to me, all inspired by my pursuit of living a life with intention.

(Really, it’s a blog. I do keep an actual journal — every day, in fact — and have been for the better part of twenty years now. But that’s just for me. “Blog” feels too much like something crafted to build a following, which isn’t what I’m trying to do here. That’s why I called it “Journal” instead. Still, this is the part of my journal I’m happy to share. So, yeah — really, it’s a blog.)

China’s Dilemma: Between Growth and Reform.

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After 40 years driving a miraculous economic growth which lifted more than 850 million people out of poverty*, during the last few years China took a U-turn from from the policies of opening and reform it so successfully embraced since 1979.

Why?

I lived in China for over 18 years, five of which I spent meticulously researching the topic and collecting over 5,000 photojournalistic images, including throughout the times of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns

“China’s Dilemma” features a rigorously researched essay, with striking evidence of how the larger narrative was mirrored in my personal experience throughout the two decades I lived and did business in the country—and with the country—, and a thoroughly curated selection from my photographic archive.

* ref. 1979-2021