China’s government tries to raise the number of newborns to offset an aging population, but the latest demographics show Chinese do not follow that lead as the country’s birthrate is dropping. People choose to make a different choice, explains social commentator Zhang Lijia in the Guardian. “And society has become more tolerant.”Read More →
A Hunan reality TV show Sisters who make waves triggers off a heated debate in China on whether the TV show adds to the feminist debate or not. Author Zhang Lijia collects the arguments pro and con, and in the end concluded that the commercial show is making quite some feminist waves, she writes in the South China Morning Post.Read More →
China has changed its income tax for the first time in seven years, beneficial for the lower income groups, and less for the high earner. Financial analyst Sara Hsu discusses the purpose: more spending might be a motive, but as aging and health care costs loom, many might opt for saving, she says at CGTN.Read More →
E-commerce giant Alibaba launched this week a special app for the older people at Taobao, its online shopping website. A logical step, says retail analyst Ben Cavender to Reuters. “It’s easier now than it was in the past to get some of these older users to actually open up their wallets and spend.”Read More →
Self-sufficiency in food has long been the mantra of China. But that is changing, as the country even imports rice from the US. Aging farmers, pollution and other challenges makes this change necessary, tells assistant professor Sara Shu, as the domestic production cannot be guaranteed.Read More →
A relative slow growth, a rapidly aging population in an unprecedented demographic transition, and no serious social safety net. Author Howard French of Everything Under the Heavens: How the Past Helps Shape China’s Push for Global Power calls at the Asia Society the next 10, 15 years the most dangerous for China.Read More →
Medical reform in China has been lagging, and private hospitals hardly play a role, because patients to not trust them, and medical staff does not want to leave state-funded career. Beida business professor Jeffrey Towson explains on his weblog what could be a road to reform, with the help of investment bankers.Read More →
While many analysts expect China to grab chances when the US is changing its global position, eminent China experts Howard French sees the opposite happening. With a shrinking and aging population, China´s power is diminishing, he argues in The Atlantic. While the US have chances.Read More →
China´s economy is struggling from a relatively lower growth rate and lack of efficiency. Despite all good intention, China will keep a leading role for the state in the economy, says economist Arthur Kroeber and author of China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know® in a wide-ranging interview in Knowledge.ckgsb.Read More →
China ages and its wealthy are looking for new ways to invest their money and secure their future, says a new report by Hurun and Taikang Life insurance. “The aging group expects to lead colorful and relaxed lives, and also to travel extensively after retirement,” Hurun chair Rupert Hoogewerf said to Global Times.Read More →
The world´s most populous country is facing an unprecedented crisis, as its population ages fast, tells former New York Times Shanghai-bureau chief Howard French to PBS. The fast rising demand for social security, health care and a diminishing work force, will narrow down China´s economic expansion in the near future. The aging crisis not only shows the immense failure of the one-child policy, it will also force the country to become more welcoming to much-needed immigrants.Read More →
Already underfunded and facing a fast aging population, healthcare in China is under pressure. Financial analyst Sara Hsu sees some encouraging tests in keeping costs down, but many more reforms are needed to pass the test, she writes in the Diplomat.Read More →