What's the cost of living in China?

[Deja Q]

I do know gas is 33 cents per liter (per a cusory google search) and broadband connectivity is 50 cents/month (per a person on a technology forum).

How much do the Chinese make?

Is it comparable to us once all is said and done, or are they getting a free ride while we're crashing?

[rman]

1. Living in China is no picknick for the vast majority of Chineese

China drought leaves 17 million without water
13 Aug 2006 04:03:41 GMT
Source: Reuters
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK19352.htm

That's 17 million people who definately aren't getting a free ride.

--

Here's some little known background on the politics and the culture of China:

Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party (Documentary series)

Based on the book "The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party"
Available as free download from http://www.theepochtimes.com
Since its release, over 3 million Chinese have publicly withdrawn from the Communist party.

The traditional Chinese character for "party" consists of two radicals: "advocate" and "black".
Confusius said "the superior man has friends, but does not belong to a clique".
In Chinese history, "party" or "party member", which can also be interpreted as "gang" or "gang member", carries a derogatory meaning.

Teaser: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7665540972727883942&q=Nine+Commentaries+on+the+Communist+Party (1 minute video)

A total of some 9 hours of video focussing on the Chinese Communist Party, with ample reference to communist party in the USSR, Marxism and Leninism.
About the violent overthrow and supression of traditional Chinese culture, and how the Chinese communist party rewrote its constitution several times in response to economic and social crises, at one point even including capitalism into its doctrine.

The Epoch Times special edition
Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party
http://ninecommentaries.com/
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Nine+Commentaries+on+the+Communist+Party

1. On What the Communist Party Is
More than a decade after the fall of the former Soviet Union and Eastern European communist regimes, the international communist movement has been spurned worldwide. The demise of the Chinese Communist Party is only a matter of time.

2. On the Beginnings of the Chinese Communist Party
Why did the Communist Party emerge, grow and eventually seize power in contemporary China? Did the Chinese people choose the Communist Party? Or, did the Communist Party gang up and force Chinese people to accept it? The CCP has set itself above all, conquering all in its path, thereby bringing endless catastrophe to China.

etc.

[w4rma]

2. It depends on whether your Chinese ID card says "urban" or "rural". (nt)

[justgamma]

3. Our plant manager

just came back from the China division. He told us that they make $2.00 a day wages and get $3.00 a day for room and board.
It takes 6 people to do the job that 2 people do here. We can make the parts at least 6 times faster.
This is at a manufacturing plant.

[rman]

5. Quite telling about the corporate notion of "productivity";

productivity is not related to the number of people it takes to produce something - it only relates to cost. After all 6 people * $2 is cheaper than 2 people * $5 * 8hrs.
Supposedly increased productivity is good for the economy which supposedly is good for everyone. In the mean time a significant portion of the labor force is working in practically slave labor conditions.
Same principal as in the US - just a lot worse.

[dipsydoodle]

4. This will give a clue

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/22/content_418101.htm

Their average income /person is far far lower than the USA. If you averaged it out across the whole country including the poor farm communities their average income is less than 3 % of the same criteria if used for the USA. Proportionately thier 33 cents a gallon is expensive.

Back in 1996 their farmers were making just over $ 40 a year.
http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/ltc/efl/courses/Found_n/2001/sunhe%20opinion.htm

[entanglement]

6. They have it pretty bad, very far from what you call a 'free ride'

Search for 'death from overwork in China', and be thankful that you're not a Chinese laborer or peasant.