The gap between China's richest and poorest citizens is approaching a dangerous level and could lead to social unrest, state media reported Wednesday, citing a government study. The most affluent one-fifth of China's population earn 50 percent of total income, with the bottom one-fifth taking home only 4.7 percent. Attention has recently been focused on the plight of migrant workers, after a killing spree brought on by poor working conditions.
See "Gap Between China's Rich, Poor Alarming", Associated Press, The New York Times, September 20, 2005