China

Why is China a big deal?• TONS of people! The CIA estimates there will

be 1,336,718,015 people in July!– In Shanghai there are 16.575 million people– In Beijing there are 12.214 million people

The Economy!• China has a LOT of money– Think of how many things are “made in China” –

China is the biggest exporter in the world!– China’s GDP is $9.872 trillion!!

Communism• China is a communist country, which means

the government in China has a LOT of control.• Unlike the United States where there are two

parties (Republicans and Democrats) that debate issues- the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) makes all decisions in China

Communism

• Communism began in 1949 in China• After many years of poverty and famine, the

government began to allow “free enterprise” in China, meaning people can own their own businesses.

Is China Successful??

• China is very big, very strong and has a lot of money right now!!

• However, many people say China has room to grow in their– Environmental Policies– Human Rights

Environment

• According to the World Bank, “China’s environmental problems include land degradation, deteriorating water quality and water scarcity, severe air pollution and declining natural forest cover...”

Environment Continued…

• “…These problems threaten the health and prospects of current and future generations and are undermining the sustainability of long-term growth. ”

Green House Gas (GHG)• Because urban areas are growing so fast in the

country, China is the second largest source of green-house gas emissions in the world…. (Guess who is #1!)Green House Gasses are chemicals in our atmosphere that reflect radiation and cause global warming

HUMAN RIGHTS

Human Rights: One-Child Policy• It is hard to have so many

people in one country! You need lots of jobs, schools, hospitals, food, etc…

• So in 1979 China introduced the “One Child Policy” to keep the population from growing too quickly!

One-Child Policy

• Families in China are only supposed to have one baby.

• Parents who have more than one child may have to pay a fine.

• Those who only have one child are awarded a “Certificate of Honor for Single-Child Parents”

One-Child Policy

• “Since 1979, the law has prevented some 250 million births, saving China from a population explosion the nation would have difficulty accommodating.”

Laura Fitzpatrick, China’s One Child Policy. Time Magazine. July 27 2009

Problems…• Can the government tell you

how to run your family??• What if a couple wants a big

family??

• Many families would prefer to have a male child- meaning many female babies are put up for adoption, or even killed….

Human Rights: Labor Standards• In the United States what would happen if a

company made you work for 15 hours without a break and paid you $1 an hour to do so?

Labor Standards

• In China, sometimes the rules are not as strict as in the US– Kids often work– Companies can allow someone to work more than

40hrs a week without paying ‘overtime’ wages– Minimum wage is not always followed

• This means it often costs less to make an item in China than it does in the US

Made In China

• Because it is cheaper to make things in China, companies in the US often buy many of their products from China

Supply and Demand

• Remember supply and demand- Prices is determined by how much there is and how much people are willing to spend.

• If a business in the US is able to sell their products for less money than the businesses they compete with, they will make more money.

Good or Bad?

• Is it good or bad for China that the US wants to buy so much from China?

• Is it good or bad for the US that the US wants to buy so much for China?