Abstracts » Business, international

Country cousins

Article Abstract:

China has a low official unemployment rate for urban areas, and this disguises hidden employment as state enterprises contract. These enterprises provided pensions, health care, schooling and housing. Local government has taken on some of these roles, and workers are still tied to specific locations. Rural workers are freer to migrate, and take on low paid jobs in cities. They tend to be shorter due to eating poorly and take on work that workers shed from state enterprises do not want such as collecting rubbish. Household registration is neededfor migrant's families to obtain schooling, so families often remain in the countryside.

Social aspects, Labor market, Rural-urban migration, Rural urban migration

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Now comes the hard part

Article Abstract:

China needs to carry out political reforms in order for its economy to prosper. There is a need for free speech and protection of intellectual and physical property. The government is committed to a market economy, and high rates of growth initially came as China caught up. Migration from rural areas is needed for productivity to increase in agriculture. There will be pressure for political change from increased integration into the world economy. Regional inequality and rural-urban disparities are serious problems. Federalism could develop in China. There is cause for concernat opportunities for corruption from privatization.

Economic Programs, Administration of Economic Programs, Political aspects

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Whatever it is, we can't afford it

Article Abstract:

China has reformed its tax system, and aims the restrcuture the banking system. Central government is taking on bad debts and using asset management companies to restructure the debts. This policy is adding to the problems of public finance, and there are also pension liabilities. There are ideological obstacles to privatization. Control of bad debts and increases in tax revenue could allow public debt to remain at manageable levels, but a rise in bad debt and stagnation in tax revenues would create problems.

Public finance

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