Urbanizing challenges

(cont'd)

China's rulers are banking on strong economic growth to come from their plan to transform rural villagers into city dwellers.  They expect these new urbanites to escalate their consumption, i.e. buy more goods, thus expanding their economy.

photo:  nytimes.com

Of course, this assumes they'll have money to spend:  first from government payments and then, when that runs out, from wages.  But will there be jobs for them?  Not much after about the age of 50, and then "most are still excluded from national pension plans, putting pressure on relatives to provide."

Jobs must be created.  Vast amounts of money must be spent on infrastructure and services like schools and healthcare.   

The size of this project is staggering:  remember that America's population is about 300 million - and the Chinese government intends to move 250 million people out of their countryside into mushrooming and combined cities.

Added to economic dangers, there will be social stress.  “Across China, bulldozers are leveling villages that date to long-ago dynasties."  In the photo above a man scavenges among the ruins of his old village.