When numbers don't add up
Updated: 2007-07-17 07:08
The government should focus less on economic figures and more on people's livelihoods, says an article in Qilu Evening News. The following is an excerpt:
The municipal government of Shenzhen publicized its index of development statistics last week. The per capita GDP in the city was $8,800 last year.
Some officials are prideful when talking about their growth figures. But the public is growing increasingly skeptical. People have even started to question the validity of these numbers, which sometimes seem at odds with their daily experiences. Shenzhen's per capita GDP of $8,800 came in for questioning on the Internet.
The accuracy and truthfulness of official statistics should be accepted on faith. So why have netizens doubted and even criticized them?
The rosy picture presented by the official data does not measure up to common people's experiences. The rising prices of commodities and services have hurt their purchasing power. In some regions, data is publicized selectively. Some officials tend to report only positive news. The most high-profile numbers tend to be those that reflect economic and social progress. Those numbers that reflect issues that affect people's daily lives, such as those for pollution, unemployment and the number of people who cannot afford their own homes, are not publicized or are quietly disclosed.
When we think about the average price of housing in Shenzhen, which has rocketed to almost 20,000 yuan ($2,600) per square meter, it becomes clear why some netizens have questioned the official numbers.
(China Daily 07/17/2007 page10)