More and more young Chinese flee the stresses of city life and head for the countryside. The government encourages this trend by creating "beautiful villages" for young creative individuals and by shaping poor farmers into better consumers.
By Fabian Peltsch
Against expectations, "Return to Dust," a movie about the troubles of the poor rural population, has become a box-office hit in China. But since its powerful images undermine Xi Jinping's success story of the fight against poverty in the countryside, it has now fallen victim to the censorship authorities. China's movie fans are outraged.
By Redaktion Table
Real estate crisis, protests outside banks and youth unemployment: Many Chinese are feeling the consequences of the strained economy. This has enormous potential for social unrest – and is probably the biggest and entirely home-grown threat to the government in Beijing.
By Redaktion Table
Pictures of 25-year-olds driving a new Porsche or wearing the most expensive couture watches were the norm on China's social media platforms for a long time. Showing off what you have and who you are was considered part of the Chinese dream. Consumption in China offered many opportunities to celebrate one's own individuality, but that is now coming to an abrupt end.
By Ning Wang
Inequality is on the rise in China. While some bask in limitless luxury, tens of millions of migrant workers have to make do with meager wages. The leadership wants to fight inequality and has proclaimed "common prosperity" as its goal. What is causing the gap between rich and poor? And is it possible to draw any conclusions for political measures to overcome this inequality?
By Nico Beckert
