I understand that the market reforms where great for the people of China and helped it develop into a global superpower competing with the USA. However, now that there is such growth, shouldn’t they start tuning down the private sector until it’s fully replaced? Similar market reforms happened in the USSR, but that was replaced when the USSR economy grew. I tried to research it, but all I got was capitalist bs from the west. Also, even with the private sector, shouldn’t higher education be paid for? I understand that there is nuance and it is not that simple, that is why I’m posting this: I want to understand the nuance, not to spread ultra bs.

  • Munrock ☭@lemmygrad.ml
    30·
    2 days ago

    Something important to note about China’s private sector compared to Western liberal ones, is that it’s highly regulated, and because of that a lot of the disgustingly abusive ways that private corporations treat the public just doesn’t happen there.

    For example, with ads in apps. It’s just accepted knowledge that with ‘free’ apps, you are the product and the app sells your data and/or attention to advertisers. In China that’s all extremely regulated: if you see an ad, it’s got to come with some kind of special offer or deal that benefits you, and not in bullshit “mark the price up and then discount it back down” kinds of ways.

    So in the West the app sells your attention to the advertisers; in China the app sells access to you and the advertisers give you coupons and discounts (that automatically get processed by the app’s payment system) in exchange for your attention.

    And the most important part is that if people report an ad, the government will be on the side of the public when it investigates, as opposed to the toothless reporting systems that nobody bothers with in the West.

    The net effect of this, and many many other kinds of ‘authoritarian’ regulatory laws that don’t exist in the west, is that I’m not experiencing the same kind of enshittification in China as I am in the West.

    • Duplexity01 [none/use any]@hexbear.netEnglish
      6·
      1 day ago

      Thank you for your explanation. I learned something new today.

      In the west, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PAY, you are still the product. There’s no avoiding it, and it angers me so much

    • blobii@lemmygrad.ml
      10·
      2 days ago

      Now I understand why a lot of Chinese online retailers always have flashy deals in their ads!

      It all makes sense

    • ☭ William 🇵🇸@lemmygrad.mlOPEnglish
      6·
      2 days ago

      I’ve heard accusations of shitty working conditions in China where people slave long times at companies like shein and temu (not limited to them though) for cents. Western bs?

      • Munrock ☭@lemmygrad.ml
        21·
        2 days ago

        “Shitty working conditions” is very subjective.

        They’re allowed to go to the toilet.

        And if you’re working in the city, you’re there by choice and moving back to a rural life is an option.

        And you got free healthcare.

        And the company has to provide boarding if you can’t afford your own place at city rental rates.

        How does that all line up against working at an Amazon Fulfillment Center or Walmart?

        What isn’t subjective is that shitty working conditions in China are improving, while shitty working conditions under neoliberalism are getting worse.

        • Duplexity01 [none/use any]@hexbear.netEnglish
          9·
          1 day ago

          I work with shitty conditions already. The Chinese people are very diligent and hardworking, and that’s one of the factors to consider when analysing China.

          I think one of the greatest things about China is being free from religious attacks. Religion is used to control the peoples everywhere around the world, I wonder if the chinese know about this. The more irreligious a people, the better off they are

        • VladimirLimeMint@lemmygrad.ml
          12·
          2 days ago

          There’s a video while ago by a black American teacher in Chengdu who explained that she got free healthcare coverage and benefits for being a college lecturer just like her peers in China.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9v2wBwDXls

          Also a TikTok video by Buddhawang where he explained that even no name fast food joints have to have coverage for benefits, sick leaves, maternal care, vacations, and injury care mandated by China labor laws.