The staging of World Expos is frequently accompanied by controversy concerning their economic consequences and the long-term benefits or disadvantages they bring to the cities that so eagerly host them.
These events undoubtedly generate huge economic benefits for host cities in the short term. The sudden surge in out-of-town visitors brings an increase in the consumption of products and services, as well as attendant business profits and employment demand.
Yet these international events also entail vast, preparatory expenditures on infrastructure and sites from stadiums to pavilions.
The large yet provisional economic boon created by these events does not always compensate for their tremendous costs. Critics have already expressed concern about the economic ramifications of the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.
In spite of some misgivings and criticisms, grave concerns about the long-term economic consequences of the Expo are most likely misplaced.
The most important economic function of the Expo will be to provide the city of Shanghai with a superb branding opportunity. The Expo will ensure that Shanghai receives a vast amount of positive media abroad, serving in effect as a marketing campaign for the city, and promoting it as both a tourist destination and a place of business.
An independent study on the Dutch pavilion at the 2000 World Expo in Hanover estimated that it cost the Netherlands the formidable sum of 35 million euros, yet generated more than 10 times that amount in potential revenue for the country's economy, by promoting the tourism industry and other industries of the Netherlands.
No doubt the Expo will yield even greater boons and opportunities for Shanghai as well as the rest of China, and the direct and indirect economic benefits will more than justify the staging price.
Perhaps even more significant than the economic benefits that the 2010 Expo will bring to Shanghai is the strong impetus it has created for improvements to the city as a whole.
Changes to certain parts of the city have been sweeping and immense. Shabby and rundown residential areas situated along the Huangpu River close to the Expo site have been wholly revitalized, and are unrecognizable compared to only several years ago.
As important as, if not even more important than, the city's physical facelift are the discernible changes in the character and conduct of Shanghai's local population.
The general level of civility and politeness among the Shanghainese seem to have gone up considerably on the eve of the 2010 Expo.
Litter is far scarcer on the city's streets compared to the past, while unseemly habits such as spitting and queue-cutting also appear much less frequent.
Throughout China, the Shanghainese suffer from a reputation of being brusque and aloof urbanites, overly proud of their hometown as the most cosmopolitan and economically-prominent of Chinese cities.
On a recent visit, however, I found taxi drivers and strangers on the street to be accommodating, friendly and helpful.
These improvements are perhaps of even greater significance than any tangible modifications to the city's facilities and furnishings.
Modernizat ion entails more than just the construction of advanced infrastructure, efficient power and water supply, excellent transportation facilities and swift Internet connections.
It also needs improvements to the character and conduct of a society's most vital constituent parts, the people. Even if concerns about the economic consequences of the Shanghai 2010 Expo were valid, the improvements that staging the event has engendered in both the city's appearance and the manner of the people are justification enough.
