Social equity for youth

Problems facing both migrant workers and the urban wealthy call for sincere efforts in building fair social security systems

Following 30 years of reform and opening up, China's educated youth are split into two distinctive groups. Some of them, benefiting from the country's growing economic success, have become intellectual elites with dominant social status. Their less-fortunate peers, who missed these opportunities, are still struggling at the bottom rungs of society.

In such an unfavorable context, they will likely turn into so-called "angry youth", radically critical citizens furious over any malpractice by public powers, and thereby sowing the seeds of social inequity. This group, who defy mainstream values, will have profound and far-reaching impact on Chinese society.