Many of the changes taking place in China are common features of rapid industrialization: rising incomes, urban living, better education, postponed life stages, and greater mobility. Japan saw similar changes in the 1950s and 1960s, as did South Korea and Taiwan in the 1980s.
But some unique factors are also at work, such as the government's one-child policy and the marked economic imbalances among regions. Analysis reveals important insights into the likely demographic and socio-demographic profiles of Chinese consumers at the end of this decade.
