---
title: "Inflation, corruption, inequality top list of Chinese public’s concerns"
description: "China watchers are eagerly anticipating this weekend’s Third Plenum of the 18th Party Congress, a gathering expected to focus on a whole host of reforms. Here are five facts from Pew Research related to issues Chinese leaders will be addressing."
date: "2013-11-08"
authors:
  - name: "Jacob Poushter"
    job_title: "Associate Director, Global Attitudes Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/jacob-poushter/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/11/08/inflation-corruption-inequality-top-list-of-chinese-publics-concerns/"
---

# Inflation, corruption, inequality top list of Chinese public’s concerns

This weekend, top leaders in China plan to focus on a [whole host of reforms](http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2013/11/04-china-third-plenum-pessimism-li-mcelveen), ranging from initiatives to open up the nation's economy to addressing challenges such as corruption, environmental problems, and social issues. In our years of asking the Chinese questions about their views about the state of their country, here are their answers on key issues:

[![FT_China_Questions](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2013/11/FT_China_Questions.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/09/19/environmental-concerns-on-the-rise-in-china/)

**Inflation** – Rising prices are seen as a very big problem by **59%** in China, according to a spring 2013 [Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/09/19/environmental-concerns-on-the-rise-in-china/). When asked which is the issue most important for the government to address first, **53%** of the [Chinese public said inflation](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/05/23/chapter-1-national-and-economic-conditions/), while 26% named inequality and only 11% cited unemployment. Inflation [shot up](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/14/us-china-economy-cpi-idUSBRE99D00X20131014) to 3.1% in September, making it a pressing issue for China’s Communist party elite.

**Corruption – **Just over half of Chinese **(53%)** said that corrupt officials were a very big problem, according to the [spring 2013 survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/09/19/environmental-concerns-on-the-rise-in-china/). The recent conviction of [Bo Xilai](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/09/23/sentencing-of-former-party-boss-bo-xilai-puts-focus-on-china-corruption-concerns/) and accounts of [personal enrichment](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/business/global/family-of-wen-jiabao-holds-a-hidden-fortune-in-china.html) among former Communist leaders from China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) make the issue even more salient. Many observers believe SOE reform will be one of the top goals of this weekend's leadership meeting. It is estimated that 35% of business activity and [43% of profits in China](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/world/asia/state-enterprises-pose-test-for-chinas-new-leaders.html?pagewanted=1) result from SOEs.

******Inequality – **Just over half in 2013 **(52%)** said that the gap between the rich and the poor was a large concern, according to the [spring survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/09/19/environmental-concerns-on-the-rise-in-china/). Earlier this year, Chinese officials released** **[an updated Gini coefficient](http://www.economist.com/news/china/21570749-gini-out-bottle) of .**474** (a measurement of inequality where 0 represents perfect equality and 1 equals maximum income inequality)**, down from a peak of .491 in 2008.** Many were [skeptical of the accuracy](http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/1feb0128-614a-11e2-957e-00144feab49a.html#axzz2joRudyuA) of this rating, but [Pew Research polling](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/09/19/environmental-concerns-on-the-rise-in-china/#china-inequality) shows the number concerned about inequality has fallen since 2008, when 72% said it was a very big problem.

**Environmental issues – **An increasing number of Chinese are concerned about environmental issues, as [suffocating air pollution](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/10/22/as-china-coughs-and-chokes-public-concern-about-air-pollution-rises/) makes international headlines. In the [spring 2013 survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/09/19/environmental-concerns-on-the-rise-in-china/), **47%** in China said air pollution was a very big problem and **40%** describe water pollution as a big concern.

**Social issues** – Lurking in the background of this year’s plenum are increasing concerns about ethnic tensions within China. Recent attacks in [Beijing](http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/3-dead-after-vehicle-bursts-into-flames-at-tiananmen-square/) and [Taiyuan](http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/explosions-near-communist-party-building-in-china/?hp&_r=0) have highlighted the issue and there have been [tough questions](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/10/22/tough-questions-ahead-for-china-on-its-treatment-of-citizens/) from abroad for the Chinese government on its treatment of its own citizens. A spring [Pew Research survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/10/22/tough-questions-ahead-for-china-on-its-treatment-of-citizens/) found that only a median of **36%** across 38 countries surveyed in 2013 said the Chinese government respected the personal freedoms of its people. Furthermore, China had among the worst rankings on government restrictions of religion, according to the Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project [Government Restrictions Index](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2011/08/09/rising-restrictions-on-religion-gri/).