❗Let's close the gap: We still need your help to raise $40,000 by April 1. Donate now

China’s economy grows, but citizen happiness does not

Chris Hogg Dec 17, 2010
HTML EMBED:
COPY

China’s economy grows, but citizen happiness does not

Chris Hogg Dec 17, 2010
HTML EMBED:
COPY

TEXT OF STORY

STEVE CHIOTAKIS: Now, further proof that money doesn’t necessarily buy you happiness. In China, the population is getting richer every year. But also increasingly dissatisfied.

From Beijing, here’s the BBC’s Chris Hogg.


CHRIS HOGG: The Chinese economy is grew by 10 percent this year, the fastest growing in the world. But according to a survey from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, people here are the least happy they’ve been in five years. The survey blames rising food prices, corruption amongst government officials and a growing gap between rich and poor.

Dr. Kerry Brown from the London think tank Chatham House says many Chinese are having trouble adjusting to an increasingly capitalist society.

KERRY BROWN: You kind of have problems of people trying to compete with each, greater competitiveness in society, the state isn’t really looking after people.

The Chinese Government is acutely concerned about the affect that economic growth could have on social stability. And the results of this survey will only fuel those worries.

In Shanghai, I’m the BBC’s Chris Hogg, for Marketplace.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.