On Sunday, famous Chinese economist David D. Li told media that China is predicted to overtake Japan as the world's second-largest economy – as measured by GDP – by the end of 2009.
Years ago, this would have been a top story for nearly every newspaper and media outlet. But instead, the news generated fairly little attention, with most people focusing instead on a road bridge collapse in Hunan Province and the latest developments surrounding the H1N1 flu in China.
In a recent survey on the Global Times website, roughly 80 percent of respondents said they could accept a GDP growth rate of less than 8 percent in China this year. Most expressed concern with the environment and living standards, which they placed ahead of GDP growth.
The shift in the public's focus means Chinese are becoming less concerned with simple statistical growth in the GDP, once seen as a symbol of national pride. This is a new test for the government, as people become more concerned with quality of life, rather than simple GDP measures.
From the early 1980s onwards, following the start of China's reform and opening-up, the country was narrowly focused on maintaining a high rate of GDP growth as it tried to “catch up” with other world economies.
China achieved a measure of success with this approach, lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. Now, it's time to adopt a broader definition of “development.”
Beyond GDP growth, we must also measure a number of other factors, including social equality, environmental problems, workplace safety, and other quality-of-life issues.
It's harder for the government to satisfy these new demands than it was to meet basic needs like food and clothing. A simplistic focus on GDP growth gets us nowhere, as we are still lagging in social progress.
The mere fact that people are more concerned with quality of life than mere GDP measurements is progress in its own right. However, it means more challenges for the government.
As Shanxi Province Party Chief Zhang Baoshun once said, “we are totally against any reckless development to fabricate rosy political achievements. We strongly oppose any polluted and bloody GDP growth at the cost of people's interests.”