Energy, Investment, and Everyday Life in China and the United States

Edward Deng interviews his father, Kun Deng, about energy usage in his life, from his childhood in rural China in the 1960s to his career in the United States, as an investment professional on Wall Street. Deng discusses moving to the countryside at a young age, after his mother was sent there for reeducation as part of the Cultural Revolution. He describes differences between urban and rural living and remembers rationing resources like kerosene, collecting water from the village well, and having no electricity. Deng reflects on the relationships between community members, who he says shared with one another despite their own limited resources. Deng also discusses burning wood for cooking, which placed a strain on nearby forests and resulted in deforestation. Later, he says people began to burn sawdust. Deng also describes the differences he noticed in college, where running water and electricity were more accessible, and discusses the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States in 1979. Deng says he was envious of American appliances and western luxuries. He also reflects on moving to the United States, cultural shifts in modern China, air pollution, and differences between his childhood in China and his son's childhood in the United States. Deng describes how his work in investment banking impacts his perspective on energy and offers predictions for the future of renewable energy and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. Deng concludes by discussing the struggle between profit and social responsibility.