Are China’s social ills from four decades of rapid economic growth approaching a tipping point?
- Experts warn that problems created by rapid economic expansion may have reached dangerous levels, threatening stability
- A number of not-for-profit start-ups are emerging to address issues as Beijing vows to strengthen efforts on boosting employment, education and social security
China’s economic and technological growth over the past 40 years has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, but the rapid development to become the world’s second largest economy has also created new problems in society, which analysts warn may now be reaching dangerous levels.
Emerging social issues from urbanisation, if they remained unresolved, could threaten the stability of society as the country aims to increase its urbanisation rate from the current 59 per cent to 70 per cent by 2030, implicating another few hundred million people, analysts said.
The rising stakes come as the Chinese economy is growing at its slowest pace in nearly three decades. It is facing uncertainties from the prolonged trade war with the United States and domestic structural problems that are biting into people’s incomes and employment.
Social stability is the foremost priority for Chinese leaders, and a measure of the government’s capability in the eyes of the people. President Xi Jinping said that in 2019 China should strengthen its ability to prevent and defuse any major risks to ensure sustained and healthy economic development and social stability. More efforts should be made in areas including employment, education, social security, medicine, and health care to continuously enhance people’s sense of fulfilment, happiness and security, Xi said.
The Beijing International Institute of Urban Construction in April identified nine factors, including the forced relocation of citizens, conflict between residents and migrants in major cities, adequate medical treatment, and environmental pollution that could spark social unrest.