A Golden Future emerges from cooperation between a British university and a major Chinese company. They aim to develop healthcare using implants to monitor patients' bodily functions and set up factories to manufacture buildings of real architectural quality. The professors and PhD students involved face major questions. Who should decide how universities are run: vice chancellors, government, local communities, professors, students or commercial organizations willing to fund research? Who should decide how healthcare is provided: doctors, patients, government, the media, drug companies or medical insurance companies? As the building industry becomes more industrialised, can it create real architecture? Should religious organizations concentrate on promoting the spiritual values which shape people's behaviour? Running through all these questions is the key issue of whether competition or cooperation delivers better and more equitable outcomes for everyone.