China's middle class defined by income

ILOVEYOU- · May 30th, 2005, 08:06 PM

China's middle class defined by income

China's National Bureau of Statistics said in a survey that households with an annual income ranging from 60,000 yuan (US$7,250) to 500,000 yuan should be categorized as middle class, as a growing number of people enjoying higher living standards.

The bureau defined the standard on a survey with 300,000 questionnaires released and conversions of international standards, Cheng Xuebing, an NBS official, said.

"We set the number according to the World Bank's criteria of the medium level of international GDP per capita, ranging from US$3,470 to US$8,000, and transferred it after currency exchange, purchasing power conversion and GDP per capital to average income conversion," Cheng said.

"The proportion of middle class in China will expand to 45 percent in 2020 from 5 percent today."

The survey, which cost at least 6 million yuan, reflected only the living standards in the urban areas, because people who earned that much money mainly lived in cities, Cheng said.

Lu Dale, a Chinese University of Hong Kong professor, said it was too easy to define middle class solely by income.

"It also depends on what kind of house one lives in, consumption habits, living environment, education level, and social influence" Lu said.

Under these terms, Hong Kong's middle class accounted for at most 20 to 25 percent of its total population, Lu said.

V80 · May 31st, 2005, 04:52 AM

don't need to say that in here, lots of small countries(not that rich, rich countries like the USA, japan don't mind)

don't want to see china becomes richer...

god bless those small and weak countries...

sean storm · May 31st, 2005, 06:27 AM

^ why would anyone be against a rapidly growing middle class in mainland china? because they're jealous or afraid?

china's rapid growth is benefitial not just for china but for the world economy. china is already an economic superpower, as much of its economic workings have direct impact on the global economy, ie its consumption of raw materials, oil, etc. as incomes rise in china, so does spending power.... can you imagine what kind of spending power china would have if 100's of million, if not a billion people, were middle class?

May 30th, 2005, 08:06 PM	#1
ILOVEYOU- Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 88 Likes (Received): 0	China's middle class defined by income China's middle class defined by income China's National Bureau of Statistics said in a survey that households with an annual income ranging from 60,000 yuan (US$7,250) to 500,000 yuan should be categorized as middle class, as a growing number of people enjoying higher living standards. The bureau defined the standard on a survey with 300,000 questionnaires released and conversions of international standards, Cheng Xuebing, an NBS official, said. "We set the number according to the World Bank's criteria of the medium level of international GDP per capita, ranging from US$3,470 to US$8,000, and transferred it after currency exchange, purchasing power conversion and GDP per capital to average income conversion," Cheng said. "The proportion of middle class in China will expand to 45 percent in 2020 from 5 percent today." The survey, which cost at least 6 million yuan, reflected only the living standards in the urban areas, because people who earned that much money mainly lived in cities, Cheng said. Lu Dale, a Chinese University of Hong Kong professor, said it was too easy to define middle class solely by income. "It also depends on what kind of house one lives in, consumption habits, living environment, education level, and social influence" Lu said. Under these terms, Hong Kong's middle class accounted for at most 20 to 25 percent of its total population, Lu said.

May 31st, 2005, 04:52 AM	#2
V80 BANNED Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 191 Likes (Received): 0	don't need to say that in here, lots of small countries(not that rich, rich countries like the USA, japan don't mind) don't want to see china becomes richer... god bless those small and weak countries... Last edited by V80; May 31st, 2005 at 04:57 AM.

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May 31st, 2005, 06:27 AM	#3
sean storm In the brig Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 281 Likes (Received): 0	^ why would anyone be against a rapidly growing middle class in mainland china? because they're jealous or afraid? china's rapid growth is benefitial not just for china but for the world economy. china is already an economic superpower, as much of its economic workings have direct impact on the global economy, ie its consumption of raw materials, oil, etc. as incomes rise in china, so does spending power.... can you imagine what kind of spending power china would have if 100's of million, if not a billion people, were middle class?