China's Enrichment Spawns Mature Problem -- Middle Class Angst

China’s industrial revolution may soon hand authorities a problem more typical in mature economies: how to appease the growing discontent of the middle class.

The rapid march from poverty to economic superpower gifted China’s middle class explosive income growth. Yet the image of affluent Chinese scouring the globe for luxury brands belies an insecure middle class as anxious as their counterparts anywhere. Recent data on compensation underscores their feeling of being left behind.