Economy

Paltry income, housing price top concern

By Zhang Yuchen (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-27 14:36

GUANGZHOU - Slow income increases has become the most pressing concern for Guangdong residents, a recent report by the local government's think tank revealed.

The Guangdong Situation Research Center released the "Social Mercury" report last week after polling 4,868 families in eight cities around the province during the second quarter this year.

According to the survey, slow income increases, expensive medical costs, a huge income gap between the rich and poor, corruption and high housing prices are the biggest social problems for the residents.

Related readings:  Calif. city residents march over officials' high salary  Salary increase guidelines seek to narrow income gap  Beijing releases 2010 salary increase guidelines  China considers cap on salaries at state monopolies

"All these problems exist due to the unhealthy system of income distribution, which should arouse alert," said Zheng Zizhen, director of the research center.

The lowest income regulated by the municipal government of Guangzhou, capital of the province, remains around 1,100 yuan ($162) per month.

"But even with a salary of 1,300 yuan per month, people may find it difficult to live in Guangzhou," said Fang Yan, a Guangzhou resident in her 20s. "The price of housing really stops young people who want to buy a house and begin a family."

In the poll, most citizens chose "buying or changing a house" and "buying medicine or seeing a doctor" as the biggest difficulties in their lives.

Housing prices had never been in the top 10 list of public concerns before, but in this survey, it jumped into the top five, Zheng said. "It has evolved into a serious social issue," he said.

"The problems are low income, less social insurance as well as high consumption costs. Even though Guangdong province is one of the most developed regions across the country, it is still confronted with the same knot as anywhere else in China," he said.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Guangdong has stayed at the same level with the national average of 2.6 percent in this first half year, statistics show.

The report will be delivered to the province's policy makers for reference, the research center said.