Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Last Train Home



This documentary captures the hard realities behind Chinese economic development. Specifically, the plight of migrant workers -- something I discussed earlier here.

This quote from the director says it all:

"There is a complex economic chain between the rich lifestyles of developed countries and the hard work of Chinese peasants who are trying to survive. At the two ends of the chain, neither party understands the other."

See also here:

“Many times I was in tears at all this misery ... If you were on this train with hundreds of migrants around us — it stinks, it’s dirty and everyone’s trying to survive, just to see their kids.”

3 comments:

  1. "This documentary captures the hard realities behind Chinese economic development."

    Realities but not necessities. Chicago boys don't know the difference.

    The cause of poverty is too many people. This has been known for at least 200 years. Malthus published his book in 1798.

    As long as reproduction is a "human right" I will never vote. Politics are lip stick on a pig at best.

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  2. Soon the over population thing will be turned on its head. All of the developed world and part of the developing world (including China) are having kids at below replacement rate. There are also other factors. If you compare Japan versus Mongolia or even latin America on poverty rate, the low density of Mongolia or Latin America did not lead to lower poverty.

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  3. Yan Shen2:41 PM

    Though no doubt this claim will upset egalitarians, I think it's fairly obvious that human capital also affects the economic well-being of a nation. I can think of quite a few nations where I suspect that a lack of human cognitive capital is the reason why economic development has been sorely lagging in these places.

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