The United Nations Development Programme yesterday warned that the growing income gap between rich and poor in China could threaten its stability, saying Beijing should increase social spending, reform the fiscal system and push government reforms to narrow the gap.The call reflects rising concern about the inequality that has accompanied China’s dramatic economic development over the past two decades, with the issue seen as among the most pressing faced by policymakers.
A UNDP development report released yesterday cites data showing a sustained rise in China’s Gini coefficient for income distribution, a measure of wealth inequality.