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Overview

China has become one of the world’s leading economies. This growth is having huge effects on Chinese society, as it moves from its traditionally centralized and autocratic roots to a more individualist and open society.

This article will explain how the Chinese government controls the media, why they use professional internet trolls to spread propaganda and why they funnel their bribes through gift shops.

Big Idea #1: Since the 1980s China’s economy has been growing spectacularly – and continues to expand today.

The Chinese economy has become an incredible success story. Over the course of only a few decades, the country went from being poor to one that is now very powerful and affluent. Its growth continues today.

China’s economy has grown at a rate of about eight percent per year for the past 30 years. That means it doubled in size every seven to eight years!

China’s economy has grown faster than any other country in the world. In 2014, China’s GDP grew at an average of 9% per year over a period of 25 years, while the US only grew 3%.

With China’s economic growth, people are making more money. In 1978, the average Chinese citizen made $200 per year. Today, that same person makes $6,000 per year and wages continue to rise. What’s more is that China has become a major exporter over the years as well; in 1999 it was ranked ninth on the list of top global exporters but by 2010 jumped into first place. Clearly, China’s economy is booming and growing rapidly so why is this happening?

Big Idea #2: China’s economic jump-start came from its peasants – not from some clever political plan.

In the 1950s China was poor. In 1979, it had a third of Africa’s per capita income. What changed? Why did it grow so quickly?

Mao Zedong attempted to lift China out of poverty in the late 1950s. He was not successful, and his attempt resulted in a recession and a famine that killed 30 to 45 million people. People who were desperate turned to other means of surviving, such as dividing land up into smaller plots for personal use. In Xiaogang Village, 18 farmers made a pact to do this so they could feed their families.

When farmers in China were required to give a portion of their yield to the government, they started selling the rest on the black market. They made much more profit this way than when they handed it over to the government. Other farmers saw what was happening and followed suit, and soon there were markets everywhere. The Chinese government found out about them but allowed them because they were so successful for both sides (the farmers and the consumers). Soon after that, Deng Xiaoping began allowing other businesses to start up as well, which led to many small businesses opening up all across China.

Big Idea #3: The Chinese people are hungry for success.

Mao Zedong wanted to create a state based on total equality, so he initiated the Cultural Revolution. He eliminated rank in the military and banned competitive sports to instill solidarity among people. However, once China started allowing its citizens to start their own businesses, ambition became apparent among them.

For example, the Chinese have a similar dream to Americans: getting rich through hard work. Newspapers are full of stories about people who were able to do that.

There is one success story of a woman who had little education but became successful in the online dating industry. She eventually made about $80 million by 2011. There are many other business owners like her, such as a street food vendor who later became a Chinese fast-food tycoon.