從經濟學而言，內需和外需都是一國經濟的重要組成。改革開放以來，大陸外貿增長速度明顯高於GDP增長速度，對外開放是大陸經濟保持二十年高速成長的重要動力。一九九七年以來，大陸物價指數持續下跌，僅管大陸經濟並未發生如東亞國家金融危機的恐慌，但其經濟潛在矛盾與困難很多。惟九七年出口高達百分之二十點九增長率，一定程度掩蓋了內需不足的問題。
九八年以來實施的財政政策的效應正逐漸減弱，而且由於大陸缺乏總體貨幣政策工具以及成熟的貨幣市場，以致於貨幣政策未能發揮功能。九九年第三季出口止跌回升，顯見財政支出用於支持外貿出口比支持基礎設施建設，對經濟增長的帶動作用顯著。因此，於大陸人民悲觀預期心理未改變前，持續當前外貿出口止跌回升的情勢，使得企業收入好轉，就業機會增加，大陸消費與投資才可望回升。

From an economic point of view， both internal external demand are important components of a country's economy. Since adopting the open-door policy， China's increases in international trade far exceeded increases in GDP. However， from 1997， the price index continuously declined， although China never faced the degree of financial crisis that affected other East Asian countries. The problem of insufficient internal demand was partially offset by the export growth rate which reached 20.9%.
Monetary policy did not function properly since 1998 both because the fiscal policy effects faded gradually and due to the lack of macroeconomic monetary policy and a mature currency market. However， exports started to climb from a low point since the third quarter of 1999， demonstrating that fiscal support of international trade was more important than supporting basic construction in terms of economic growth. Maintaining the continuous growth of exports should in turn increase enterprise revenue and create jobs. In this manner the Mainland's consumption and investment will hopefully recover.