How It's Used

“ORVILLE SCHELL (University of California, Berkeley, School of Journalism): Rising affluence does presume that people want more and more things. And it's a conveyor belt; it doesn't stop at any finite point. It used to be that the Chinese had what they call the five big things they all wanted. It was a radio, a sewing machine, and a bicycle. If you got those five big things, you were considered at the top of the food chain. But now there's no limit to it. After you get the car, then you want the house and the TV and the satellite dish, and then to travel. And it goes on and on and on.”

—"World in the Balance:  China Revs Up," NOVA, April 20, 2004.

Links

Related on eAlmanac
The Three C's of Japan

Beyond eAlmanac
Wikipedia article on Chinese Numbered Policies