This video explores why many Chinese people feel overworked and stressed. The speaker, Xiao Dao, uses statistical data on work hours and salaries, comparing China to other countries like the US, Germany, Singapore, and Malaysia. The video also delves into cultural and governmental factors contributing to this phenomenon, examining the historical context and the current economic climate in China.
Long Working Hours: Chinese workers have significantly longer average weekly working hours (48.7 hours) compared to the US (34.1 hours) and Germany (33.9 hours), even accounting for potential underreporting due to unpaid overtime.
Low Return on Effort: Despite long working hours and intense academic pressure, Chinese graduates receive comparatively lower starting salaries than their South Korean and Japanese counterparts. This disparity is presented as a key factor contributing to feelings of being overworked.
Cultural Factors: The video argues that China's traditional culture of "enduring hardship for future rewards" contributes to the acceptance of long working hours and low pay, especially when considering the importance of family legacy and generational wealth accumulation.
Governmental Influence: The speaker explains how the Chinese government's policies, from promoting a work ethic tied to national pride to indirect suppression of worker's rights, have historically and currently incentivized long working hours and suppressed wage growth to boost economic output and national competitiveness.
Economic Slowdown and its Effects: Recent economic shifts, including a decline in both domestic and international trade, have compounded the problem. The speaker discusses how this impacts the effectiveness of the previous strategies of long working hours and low wages for economic growth. The government's recent shift towards "anti-involution" is analyzed as a potential response to these pressures.
