Trusted market intelligence for the global chemical, energy and
fertilizer industries  The CEO’s Dilemma  By John Richardson
The blog has, in its naivety, for some time been perplexed over
why certain chemicals company CEOs portray a relentlessly
optimistic picture of developing-markets growth. This is despite
all the evidence pointing to increasing uncertainties over how
China, India, and other developing economies are going to
progress over the next decade.  Last week, during a conversation
with a chemicals industry source, the light came on when he told
us:  CEOs have to tow the line, as is the case with the
analysts, because if they go against the conventional view, they
might end up upsetting someone.  “For example, if a CEO comes
out and says, ‘I don’t agree with the Chinese government that
the country’s economy will grow by 8% this year,’ that
particular company might not get approval to build a cracker in
China.  “And as with the analysts, it is better to hunt with the
pack, as if you are an outlier