Stagnant Chinese Consumption: Structural and Social Causes (legrandcontinent.eu)

• Household consumption: 40% of GDP (2024), low by international standards
• Youth unemployment officially >16%, estimated 25-30%
• Social protection spending only 7.7% of GDP, inadequate safety net
• Cultural phenomena: neijuan (involution), jiaolü (anxiety), tangping (lying flat)
• Government subsidies for consumption have limited impact

"Despite official GDP growth of 5%, household consumption in China remains weak at 40% of GDP in 2024, far below the US (68%) and France (53%). The article by sociologist Jean-Louis Rocca attributes this to high youth unemployment (officially >16%, estimated 25-30%), inadequate social protection (7.7% of GDP), high housing costs, and cultural shifts like 'neijuan' (involution) and 'tangping' (lying flat). Government subsidies for appliances, EVs, and housing have had marginal impact. The article draws on social media analysis to reveal deep anxiety among young Chinese about their economic prospects."