Environmental discontent and China's urban middle class
In 1980, with China having just embarked on its reform and opening up period, 71% of the country’s population lived in rural areas. In 2011, official data revealed that, for the first time in its history, China had become a predominantly urban society.
During that time, new metropolises have appeared almost out of nowhere. For example, little over 30 years ago Shenzhen was a relative backwater with 30,000 residents. Its population now exceeds 10 million. Elsewhere, China’s older cities have changed beyond all recognition.
Former mayor of Shanghai Han Zheng once compared his city’s outward expansion with Chinese pancakes (tan da bing) commonly sold by street vendors, which get bigger and bigger as the batter spreads out in an ever-increasing circle .
Newly constructed housing communities, some of which contain thousands of residential units, have contributed to this urban sprawl. Their appearance is part of a bigger story—the commercialisation of the housing sector and the emergence of an urban middle class.
As recently as the 1990s, most urban dwellers lived in accommodation provided by their work units (danwei). But this has all changed. Vast swathes of Maoist-era urban accommodation have been demolished. Millions of residents have been propelled onto the housing ladder through government subsidised replacement apartments, and through newly earned wealth that has enabled them to purchase real estate on the free market.
A sizeable proportion of these homeowners form part of a new urban middle class. Although estimates of the size of this social group vary considerably, most commentators agree that a Chinese middle class is beginning to form.
Middle class discontent
In China the relationship between the middle class and the state is arguably underpinned by an implicit social contract based on prosperity and social stability... read more:
https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/6418-Environmental-discontent-and-China-s-urban-middle-class
During that time, new metropolises have appeared almost out of nowhere. For example, little over 30 years ago Shenzhen was a relative backwater with 30,000 residents. Its population now exceeds 10 million. Elsewhere, China’s older cities have changed beyond all recognition.
Former mayor of Shanghai Han Zheng once compared his city’s outward expansion with Chinese pancakes (tan da bing) commonly sold by street vendors, which get bigger and bigger as the batter spreads out in an ever-increasing circle .
Newly constructed housing communities, some of which contain thousands of residential units, have contributed to this urban sprawl. Their appearance is part of a bigger story—the commercialisation of the housing sector and the emergence of an urban middle class.
As recently as the 1990s, most urban dwellers lived in accommodation provided by their work units (danwei). But this has all changed. Vast swathes of Maoist-era urban accommodation have been demolished. Millions of residents have been propelled onto the housing ladder through government subsidised replacement apartments, and through newly earned wealth that has enabled them to purchase real estate on the free market.
A sizeable proportion of these homeowners form part of a new urban middle class. Although estimates of the size of this social group vary considerably, most commentators agree that a Chinese middle class is beginning to form.
Middle class discontent
In China the relationship between the middle class and the state is arguably underpinned by an implicit social contract based on prosperity and social stability... read more:
https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/6418-Environmental-discontent-and-China-s-urban-middle-class
