Allow Some People to Get Rich First – Has China Achieved Common Prosperity?
Beijing, China – A recent article published on the Chinese website Utopia(乌有之乡) has sparked debate about the implementation of Deng Xiaoping’s famous allow some people to get rich first policy and its impact onChina’s pursuit of common prosperity. The article, titled 《邓选》学习 84 允许一部分人先富起来，实现了吗？(《Deng’s Selected Works》Study 84: Has Allowing Some People to Get Rich First Been Achieved?), analyzes data on income and wealth distribution in China and compares it to other G7 nations.
The author, using data from the World Wealth and Income Database, argues that while China has seen a significant increase in wealth among the top 1% and 10% of its population since the implementation of economic reforms in 1978,this has come at the expense of the bottom 50%. The article highlights that in 2022, the income of the top 1% in China surpassed the combined income of the bottom 50%, and the wealth of the top 1% was 5.26 times that of thebottom 700 million people.
The article further points out that China’s income inequality has been steadily rising since the 1990s, with the gap between the rich and poor widening significantly. While the author acknowledges that China’s economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty, they argue that thecurrent level of inequality is unsustainable and threatens social stability.
The article also draws comparisons between China and G7 nations, demonstrating that China’s income and wealth inequality is approaching levels seen in developed capitalist countries. In 2022, China’s top 10% earners held 43.4% of the national income, only slightly less than the United States (48.3%) and Japan (44.2%). Similarly, the top 1% in China held 15.7% of the national income, second only to the United States (20.9%).
The article concludes byquoting Deng Xiaoping’s statement from 1985, If our policies lead to polarization, we will have failed; if a new bourgeoisie emerges, then we will have truly gone astray. The author argues that the current level of inequality in China contradicts Deng’s vision of common prosperity and raises concerns about thefuture of China’s socialist system.
The article has generated considerable online discussion, with many users expressing concerns about the widening gap between the rich and poor in China. Some argue that the government needs to take more concrete steps to address income inequality and promote a more equitable distribution of wealth. Others point to the need forstronger social safety nets and increased investment in public services to ensure that all citizens benefit from China’s economic growth.
The debate surrounding China’s pursuit of common prosperity is likely to continue, as the country navigates the complex challenges of balancing economic growth with social equity. The article published on Utopia serves as a reminderof the ongoing need for critical analysis and public discourse on issues of income inequality and social justice in China.
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