China’s National Development and Reform Commission or the NDRC has held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the economic reform planned for 2013. According to a plan released last Friday, this year will focus on transformation of the economic system, social welfare and livelihood improvement.
2013 is set to be a big year for economic reform in China.
As per a plan released last Friday, this year’s economic reform will cover nine key areas.
Kong Jingyuan, Director of System Reform Dept. NDRC, said, “The 2013 reforms involve four aim areas: economic system transformation, social welfare and livelihood improvement, promotion and protection of social justice, and stimulating market forces.”
rafael jimenez buendia: Last week a pundit from a Goverment think tank was asked at CCTV about hukou reform, he said loud and clear “it’s imperative”. Given the place (news channel) and the high profile of the guy I interpreted it as a real possibility this time. Looked to me like a pretty strong message. I might be wrong of course, I’m just a humble spectator honestly interested in the subject for the wealth of China and the Chinese people. All the best.
Shaun Rein: Rafael, I hope so too. There has been a stronger push for hukou and land reform by some think tanks and media outlets than I have seen. My guess is there will be fairly meaningful reforms. I just hope they go far enough. There are a lot of details that need to be ironed out and pushback from some quarters.
Ian Watanabe: Thank you Shaun,
I was very impressed with your analysis of the Chinese Economy and the problems and issues China must confront as the economy changes from one of export driven by the cheap labor of migrants to a more balance and diversified economy. Last time I checked the minimum wage in China was around 70 cents an hour. This made it cheaper for Western Nations to manufacture goods in China export back to the UK or the US, pay the tariffs and still make substantial profits. Do you agree? Ian
Dave Van Pelt: When is says Made in The USA that’s the trick. I hear of many companies having it made there and sent back here. hhhmmmm!!!!! I wonder about that??? Shaun your thoughts??
Chien-sheng Tsai: Don’t fall for the Made in USA trick; it isn’t guaranty of better quality–I just fell for it.
I just spent $1,400 (and a premium) to buy this Patroit Products brand wood chipper/shredder because it was touted online as top quality, Made in USA, blah, blah–better than cheap imports (Made in China).
I had to do an exchange; it had poorly designed and cheaply made wheels that didn’t install properly–I am just doing assembly now. I went to Home Depot and saw another brand, Made in China, that is even of better design and construction, for $800–which is $600 cheaper, with more horsepower too.
A lot of US vendors are using the Made in USA pitch, and charging a premium. Quality is not automatically better; it would be foolish to assume so–which I did.
Lee, Ming Ji (Alvin): Chien Sheng…very true. I’ve similar experiences as well in the past, and not just re the USA (of which for most part, majority of products are of relatively good quality albeit (sometimes much) more expensive than the “cheap imports”). For instance an expensive camera tripod acquired from a very well known European manufacturer years ago was fine when new but started becoming increasingly unbalanced and tilted (legs) not long after purchase (but past the warranty/return timeframe), as did another very well known (and expensive) European manufacturer of tripods, which like the first one, also eventually broke down on me (uncannily like the first, breaking down not long after warranty expiry). Meanwhile, a relatively cheap but elegant, very durable, efficient and much much lighter (very important also!) tripod from China, has held up to vigorous service over the years for me.
Chien-sheng Tsai: Quality products can be made in any country; it simply is a matter of brand, if not generic. One should not assume Made in USA is automatically better, or Made in China is automatically inferior–that may have been the case, in general, previously, but no longer true.
Kalandoro Tjitra Siantar: Nothing is absolute！Every thing will change accordingly, while the time goes by, it is just a matter of sooner or later.
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