Opinion

The tragedy of a business model

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-02 14:31

A business family returned to its village in Tiantai county of Zhejiang province for Spring Festival but the celebrations turned into a tragedy when their five children drowned in a pond. The incident reflects some defects of the famous "Zhejiang business model", says a commentator in Dongfang Daily. Excerpts:

Five children drowned in a fishpond in Tiantai county of Zhejiang province where their family of businesspeople had returned to celebrate Spring Festival. Many people have blamed the lack of railings around the pond for the tragedy.

If that be the case, why hasn't such tragedy struck families staying in the village? The fact is village kids are familiar with the slippery slopes around such ponds, especially in winter, and "outside" kids are not. Many of Zhejiang's businesspeople may have risen from villages and towns to build commercial empires both at home and abroad. But they have not taught their children the wonders or warned them of the dangers of village life. They have failed to build the emotional bonds in their children that would have tied them to their roots and bestowed on them a distinct identity. This has resulted in a serious brain drain from Zhejiang.