Dissecting the issue of resigning officials in business terms

A spate of senior officials' resignations hit the headlines recently, making people inquisitive about their motives. One of them was Ye Zhaohui who resigned as deputy mayor of Zhuji, a prosperous city in East China's Zhejiang province.

The 40-year-old quit less than a year after being promoted as deputy mayor in July 2013. And after the local legislature finally accepted his resignation, Ye told the media that he would start his own e-commerce business, which he became familiar with during his stint in office.

The reason why his resignation made the headlines is understandable. As a senior official at a young age, he had a better chance of being promoted to a much higher position than other people, and by resigning he has lost the social status, welfare and privileges that come with the post of a senior official.