China Wealth Gap to Stay in Danger Zone, Government Adviser Says

China’s income gap will persist at a “dangerously” high level over the coming decade, putting pressure on the nation’s incoming leaders to curb corruption and state control of industries, according to a government adviser.

China’s Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, may hover around 0.5, Li Shi, who helped draft a government plan on income distribution, said in an interview last week. The government hasn’t published a countrywide Gini figure since 2000. The index ranges from 0 to 1, readings at 0.4 or higher are used by analysts as a gauge of the potential for social disturbances.