Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Globalization Globalization in Asiain Asia

Paragraph 3 Globalization Paragraph 3 Globalization and inequality in Chinaand inequality in China

China's economy is “China's economy is “boomingbooming” Some people benefit more from the economic growth than others. This results in a prosperity gap, which can best be seen between urban and rural areas.

Fast urbanization

With the opening of SEZ’s, the prosperity in these regions has been growing highly.This attracts people who want to benefit from this prosperity, causing an enormous internal migration. This is the migration from the rural to the urban areas.

This internal migration led to a growing urbanization rate. If the percentage of city-dwellers is growing rapidly, we speak of a high urbanization pace.

By 2030, China will add more new city-dwellers than the entire U.S. population.

“By 2030 China's cities will have added 350 million people—more than the entire population of the United States today.”

Push factor: poverty in rural ChinaMost people who live in rural China are self

subsistant farmers. They grow crops for their own use. Their work on the field is labour-intensive. The plot of land is too small and their income is too low to buy machines, doing the work for them.

Younger people often leave the countryside to have a better chance for a good job. They become economic migrants.

Pull factor: the allure of the Pull factor: the allure of the city city

What attracts people to move to the cities?What attracts people to move to the cities?

• Plenty of jobs, mostly in the factories and the Plenty of jobs, mostly in the factories and the building industrybuilding industry

Higher wages, causing a growing middle class

Shopping mall in ShanghaiShopping mall in Shanghai

Modern lifestyle such as nice houses and flats, Modern lifestyle such as nice houses and flats, modern shopping mallsmodern shopping malls