 Letters and Blogs
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-01 07:56 Growth should benefit the poor more Comment on Hong Liang's column "Time not ripe to leave all to market" (China Daily, June 24) You carefully argue that the "time is not ripe to leave all to market" in China for it would harm the less affluent, in a country where income disparity is still very high. But it is also true that the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. Fuel subsidies, you assert, illustrate how the government can shield the population of a "largely developing country" from the soaring gasoline prices. The reality is that car owners in China, even with their numbers growing fast, are still the lucky few. The average Shanghai worker, as you mentioned, lives with little more than 2,000 yuan a month. Far from being able to afford a car, he would benefit more from an improved social security system or more subsidized education for his children, the resources for which are being used to allow for stable oil prices. Recently, the International Monetary Fund has repeatedly condemned developing countries for acting on consumer oil prices, that at best benefit poor and rich alike, instead of directing help at the people who need it the most. A good start would be to let the price of gas rise, while focusing subsidies on public transport. Individual welfare is now more of a priority for China because the country can afford it and also because it needs it. After years of relying mostly on low-cost labor, China is now shifting toward a more value-adding economy, where people consume as well as produce. I guess this is the reason why China has finally agreed to the appreciation of its currency. Of course, Western countries have not been innocent in their claim, either. The West can benefit a lot from more purchasing power in the hands of the Chinese people, as well as higher prices of those Chinese goods for which they are in direct competition. Do not misunderstand me. I am well aware of the social progress the common Chinese has witnessed in the last few years, thanks to the progressive changes initiated by increasingly considerate authorities. But my suggestion is that China should not be satisfied with its strong overall growth. Adrien Claude via e-mail Readers' comments are welcome. Please send mail to Letters to the Editor, China Daily, 15 Huixin Dongjie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029 China. Send faxes to (86-10) 6491-8377. Send e-mail to opinion@chinadaily.com.cn or letters@chinadaily.com.cn or to the individual columnists. China Daily reserves the right to edit all letters. Thank you. (China Daily 07/01/2008 page9) |
