China's emotional economy is on the rise
Amid a prolonged economic slowdown, one segment of the world's second-largest economy is growing quicker than the rest: China's so-called emotional economy.
A giant inflatable Labubu toy floats on the water at Victoria Harbour on October 25, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images 28-year-old Rebecca Zhou, born in China's Sichuan province, owns an assortment of Moomin merchandise — bags, mugs, and figurines featuring the white hippo-looking cartoon character from Finland — that she has accumulated over the years. By her own admission, many of these purchases may seem "childish", but "it is [just] nice to treat yourself to something fun, even if it is not the most value-for-money," Zhou said. Zhou is not alone. Data…
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