<
--------------
STRATFOR.com
--------------
THE INTERNET SOURCE FOR GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE
If it’s in the news, it’s too late...
Beijing Baffled by Social Security Enigma
February 27, 2002
Summary
The Chinese Ministry of Labor and Social Security has published a book titled
Readings for Government Officials on Social Security. The publication, endorsed by
President Jiang Zemin, coincides with the government's intensified focus on social
security issues and other aspects of civil economics. As it continues to integrate with
the global economy, Beijing's struggle to balance economic reforms with social
stability is growing increasingly difficult.
Image Credit: France-Press (AFP).
Analysis
The Chinese Ministry of Labor and Social Security has published a book titled Readings for Government Officials on Social Security. The publication is endorsed by President Jiang Zemin, in whose handwriting the title is inscribed, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The publication comes amid the government's growing concern for social economic issues -- including migrant labor, taxes on rural labor and retraining for unemployed workers. Beijing is extremely concerned that China's growing ranks of unemployed may become an unmanageable problem that would create social disorder and undermine the nation's economic reform programs -- which are intended to engender national strength and stability. The government is now challenged with balancing existing social pressures and the potential future payoffs of shifting to a market economy.
Beijing is struggling with problems that range from government corruption to massive unemployment and growing unrest. In essence all of these issues are rooted in China's economic reform program, and none of them can be resolved quickly. Although the government is clearly showing concern for these problems, words without definitive action will play well with the public only to a certain extent. Over time Beijing's fundamental inability to deal with these issues effectively will merely deepen public discontent.
(The Rest of the Story)
(c) 2001 Stratfor, Inc.
Dan
Beijing Baffled by Social Security Enigma . . .