Statistics and studies have shown that China’s economy has grown at a phenomenal rate of 10% per year in the last three decades. Once known as a country that was ruled by rigid authoritarianism of early communist regime, China has now grown into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Not only is China considered to be one of the world’s top exporters, but it is also attracting record amounts of foreign investment. Despite the challenges and harsh effects of the financial crisis in 2009, China’s economy has rebounded relatively unscathed.
It may seem to have a positive reputation in the economic sector, but a huge disparity between urban China and the rural region has significantly widened the cohesion of the society. The urban portion of China showcases the glamourous, flashy side of capitalism and materialism, while on the other side the rural areas paint a grim image of environmental degradation, some of the world’s worst pollution, and the growing rate of HIV infections. Many migrant workers arrive in already congested cities to seek better fortune, but they often face grim realities of exploitation, high urban living costs, and discrimination from employers and landlords. China’s rise in its economic standing comes with hefty costs, and it is up to the government to solve these important issues at once.
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