The middle income trap

Xi Jinping claims that China has achieved a tremendous feat by raising the standard of living of its citizens. "No other country can lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in such a short time," he said in 2021, describing the achievement as "a human miracle that will go down in history." However, another huge challenge awaits; keeping China out of the so-called “middle-income trap” - a stage of economic development at which wage levels stagnate. If that happens, it would prevent ...

Om Podcasten

China In Context is a fortnightly podcast by the SOAS China Institute (School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London) which offers expert analysis on the politics, economy, society, culture and history of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. It features interviews with leading academics, researchers, journalists and other China-specialists from around the world.