“For more than 20 years China’s government has encouraged the rural poor to move to cities as a way to boost growth and lift living standards. The country now has 263 million migrant workers, and new leaders who took office this year have renewed the drive to urbanise. But while city wages are higher, so are their costs of living, exacerbated by a ‘hukou’ residency system that bars Chinese from receiving benefits such as healthcare and schooling outside their registered hometown. Nearly half of left-behind children live with neither of their parents. Almost 70 percent of those stay with grandparents. A quarter have other guardians, and seven percent survive on their own.”
Related posts:
French revolutionary rule keeps Paris bakers baking
Pentagon: Afghan war costing US $45 billion per year
Google’s Schmidt Sees Encryption Killing Censorship
Taiwan central bank 'keeping close tabs' on Bitcoin
HAARP Facility Shuts Down
As prices soar, Indians exchange gold for cash
How close are we to getting superpowers?
Water rationing, tax and rate hikes add to woes of Puerto Ricans
Monsanto, steaks, and chefs: Intellectual property and food
More Car Loans Than Mortgages in U.S.
Pakistan mobile networks suspended on security fears
In Bhutan, a stock trade a day keeps stress away [2009]
China Backs US Startup Coinbase And US Falls Behind In Virtual Currencies
Peter Schiff Takes On Credit Suisse Gold Bear
'Checkout Fees' Take Effect, Allowing Retailers To Add 4-Percent Surcharge