China’s economy grows, but citizen happiness does not
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STEVE CHIOTAKIS: Now, further proof that money doesn’t necessarily buy you happiness. In China, the population is getting richer every year. But also increasingly dissatisfied.
From Beijing, here’s the BBC’s Chris Hogg.
CHRIS HOGG: The Chinese economy is grew by 10 percent this year, the fastest growing in the world. But according to a survey from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, people here are the least happy they’ve been in five years. The survey blames rising food prices, corruption amongst government officials and a growing gap between rich and poor.
Dr. Kerry Brown from the London think tank Chatham House says many Chinese are having trouble adjusting to an increasingly capitalist society.
KERRY BROWN: You kind of have problems of people trying to compete with each, greater competitiveness in society, the state isn’t really looking after people.
The Chinese Government is acutely concerned about the affect that economic growth could have on social stability. And the results of this survey will only fuel those worries.
In Shanghai, I’m the BBC’s Chris Hogg, for Marketplace.
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