These firms employed 112 million in 1995, about 80 million now. Their profitability improved last year. Zhao figures that state-owned enterprises now account for less than 30 percent of GDP, compared with 80 percent in the early 1980s. Private enterprise accounts for more than 40 percent. Such progress does not mean China's leaders are problem-free.
Unemployment is probably at a record high.
Social unrest is growing. Many commercial banks are shaky financially. But one-sixth of the human race leads a better life on average than it did before. We offer them for your additional research. The Christian Science Publishing Society.