The country's Twitter-like microblog starts a conversation about livable wages and disposable income in the world's powerhouse economy.
A woman shops for groceries at a Beijing supermarket / Reuters
Chinese Web users are discussing livable wages, savings, and disposable incomes -- all at a time when analysts argue that China must promote consumerism and ween itself off a chronic dependence on production.
Trending today on Sina Weibo, China's popular micro-blogging site, is the phrase "月入7500没安全感." in English: "There's no feeling of security with a 7,500RMB monthly salary."
The hash-tagged quote comes from a Beijing resident who was interviewed in a recent article on Sina News that discusses Chinese middle-class city-dweller's dissatisfaction with their incomes.
In the article, Xiao Yao, a recent university graduate, broke down his monthly finances:
Monthly income before taxes: 7,500RMB (~US$1,191)
Tax and insurance deductions: -1,000
Rent: -1,500
Food: -1,200
Money to send home to the family: -500
Entertainment/ misc. expenses: -1,100
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Net savings: 2,200
Xiao Yao's gripe is more about savings than being able to spend more than 1,100RMB a month on entertainment and miscellaneous expenses. His net savings rate is about 30%, which he considers perilously low. (The average U.S. savings rate is around 4% right now.)