Urban Incomes and Education

The impacts of globalisation on China's urban middle class are evident in the sharp increase in urban incomes and improvements in education and training.

Urban income growth:

• Urban incomes have risen significantly since 2000, driven by economic growth and slower population growth
• Improved working conditions include a 40-hour work week, higher overtime rates, and paid holidays

Highlight: The growth in urban incomes has been a key factor in the expansion of China's middle class.

Education and training advancements:

• Education is free and compulsory for children aged 6-15
• Literacy rates have soared from 20% in 1950 to 94% for Chinese over 15 years old
• University graduates increased from 480,000 in 2000 to 7.2 million in 2014

Example: The fifteen-fold increase in university graduates between 2000 and 2014 demonstrates the rapid expansion of higher education in China.

These educational improvements have created a skilled workforce for China's expanding knowledge and service sectors, contributing to the China middle class growth statistics.

However, there are still significant disparities between rural and urban areas:

Highlight: Per capita spending on secondary education varies widely, from £2,200 in Beijing to just £300 in Guizhou.

This rural-urban divide in education spending illustrates the ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable development across China.

Environmental Challenges and Urbanization

The rapid industrialization and urbanization in China have led to significant environmental challenges and changes in land use.

Loss of productive farmland:

• Over 3 million hectares of arable land were polluted in 2014
• Increased use of fertilizers and pesticides has contaminated farmland near rivers used for drinking water

Vocabulary: Arable land refers to land capable of being plowed and used to grow crops.

These issues highlight the challenges of industrialisation and farmland loss in China, affecting the country's agricultural productivity and food security.

Unplanned settlements:

• Rapid industrialization has created an urgent need for more urban housing
• Land prices have skyrocketed, making decent housing unaffordable, especially near city centers
• Two types of illegal housing have emerged:
  1. Expanded housing in villages on city edges, where villagers add extra stories to rent to migrant workers
  2. Unauthorized development of collectively owned farmland for private housing

Definition: Informal homes or unplanned settlements are residential areas that have developed without proper planning or legal recognition.

Environmental and health issues:

• Air pollution, primarily from coal-fired power stations, causes frequent pollution alerts in cities like Beijing
• 70% of China's rivers and lakes are polluted, affecting irrigation and drinking water
• 100 cities suffer from extreme water shortages, and 360 million Chinese lack access to safe drinking water
• Air pollution causes an average of 4,400 deaths daily in China, leading to asthma, lung cancer, and heart problems

Quote: "Chinese air pollution kills an average of 4400 people every day."

Land degradation:

• Despite having 22% of the world's population, China only has 6.4% of its land and 7.2% of its farmland
• Over 40% of China's farmland is suffering from degradation due to rapid urbanization and industrialization

These environmental challenges demonstrate the negative externalities of China's rapid economic growth and highlight the need for sustainable development practices.

Resource Pressures and Biodiversity Loss

China's economic growth has led to increased resource exploitation and significant impacts on biodiversity.

Resource pressures:

• Despite abundant oil, coal, and key metals like iron ore, China's domestic resources cannot meet its growing demand
• The Chinese government has sought additional resources in Africa and Latin America
• Amazonian rainforest has been cleared to meet China's consumption needs

Example: China's resource demands have led to deforestation in the Amazon, illustrating the global impact of its economic growth.

This situation highlights the global nature of China's resource consumption and its environmental impacts beyond its borders.

Biodiversity loss:

• China's terrestrial vertebrate population has declined by 50% since 1970
• The main cause is habitat loss and degradation of natural environments due to economic development

Highlight: The 50% decline in terrestrial vertebrate populations since 1970 underscores the severe impact of China's economic development on biodiversity.

These environmental challenges demonstrate the complex relationship between economic growth and ecological sustainability. As China continues to develop, addressing these issues will be crucial for ensuring long-term environmental and economic stability.

The effects of globalization in China have been far-reaching, transforming the country's economy, society, and environment. While bringing significant benefits in terms of poverty reduction and improved living standards for many, it has also created new challenges that will require innovative solutions and sustainable practices to address.