One of the byproducts of China’s fast economic development over the last 30 years is the growing income disparity between rural and urban residents.
It is undeniable that absolute living conditions have improved for almost everyone, with the most notable examples at both ends of the spectrum being the eradication of poverty and the recent 30th anniversary of Shenzhen, the first special economic zone. Even if the focus of policies appears to be shifting toward filling this gap, in line with the idea of “harmonious development”, the income gap is likely to grow over the next few years.
In China, allocated per capita land area is about 1.4 mu, or one-tenth of a hectare. But this number varies wildly from province to province and from county to county. In Sichuan, I have visited rural areas where per family land is about 2 mu.
This article was originally published by China Daily.