The first large-scale survey on social transitions ever to be carried out in China has been completed by the prestigious Zhongshan University. Separate surveys were conducted in south China's Guangdong Province in 2000 and 2004, covering such areas as housing, income, leisure, consumption, investment, health, social interaction, social and professional status and morality. The results and comparison of the surveys were released on January 7, 2005.

Comparison of the results indicates changes that have taken place in Cantonese society in the past four years with regard to views on society, life, family, and investment. Five areas of transition were considered the most significant.

Family life. The two surveys indicate that there has been a reassertion of family values. When asked whether family or work is more important, 19 percent of respondents indicated family in 2000, but the figure rose to 22 percent in 2004. Some 90 percent said they were satisfied with family life. Divorce and remarriage rates were below the national average.

Economic status rising. In the 2004 survey, the number of Cantonese citizens who ranked themselves in the middle of the economic scale jumped by 10 percent, accounting for 57.9 of the people surveyed, while 10 percent ranked themselves as upper middle class.

Housing purchases changed dramatically. The 2004 survey showed 16.6 percent of respondents bought welfare housing, while 15.4 bought commercial homes. The figures for 2000 were 41.5 percent and 11.6 percent, respectively.

In 2000, the majority of people surveyed worked in the public sector, primarily in the fields of science, education, culture and health. Four years later, the majority surveyed were private business owners and professionals. More people were choosing jobs for economic reasons, according to analysts, and selecting market-oriented careers.

More cautious about investments. Domestic currency bank savings are still the most important financial assets held by residents of Guangdong, although the number of people holding renminbi-denominated savings accounts fell 20.6 percent between 2000 and 2004. People also began shying away from stocks and securities: In 2000, stocks accounted for 11 percent of Cantonese citizen's total assets, but this dropped sharply to 3 percent in 2004. By 2004, people were investing more in insurance and in lotteries. Increasing numbers were looking for low-risk investments.

Mixed feelings about government. The 2004 survey indicated that 61 percent of respondents felt that government policies are for the benefit of the majority and 59 percent thought the government had the ability to deal with emergencies. However, they rated the government low in terms of transparency, efficiency and fairness, with only 33 percent providing favorable responses in these areas.

Citizen participation in government declined during the four years, with 70 percent saying that they don't participate in any kind of activities and 77.6 percent indicating that they don't know how to participate in government administration or simply don't care to.

Decline in higher education. During the four years between surveys, the number of people with secondary education increased substantially. The number receiving secondary career training remained basically the same; but the number receiving college or university education dropped 11.3 percent.

(China.org.cn by Wind Gu, January 17, 2005)