When cities join the per capita club focus should switch to quality of life

THE PER CAPITA GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF BEIJING is expected to exceed $20,000 this year, according to the city's municipal government. Beijing News comments:

That means Beijing has become the latest member of $20,000 club, which now consists of 11 - mostly coastal - cities that have reached the level of developed economies in terms of their per capita GDP.

Despite this, these cities still have long way to go to improve their management and realize sustainable development. Many of these first echelon cities in China have huge populations that produce enormous amounts of waste and consume more energy and resources than the local ecology and environment can afford.