Middle class lacks confidence: survey

A survey released by the Renmin University of China shows the majority of respondents lack confidence in the overall social environment and many believe trust between people in today's China has deteriorated over the years.

The survey released Saturday was conducted by the National Survey Research Center at the Renmin University. It polled people from more than 100 jurisdictions in China, of which 62.9 percent live in urban areas and 69.2 percent earn 3,000 yuan ($481) or less a month. The pollster did not mention how many people altogether were surveyed.

Some 66 percent of respondents said they were "unsatisfied" or "extremely unsatisfied" with the current development of the social environment, which was defined as protection of the local environmental, the wealth gap, mutual trust between people, transportation and confidence the social environment will improve.

Some 71 percent of the respondents said trust had deteriorated in the last decade and urban residents between age 23 and 50 had the biggest problem trusting others.

Business people, self-employed workers, and administrative staff scored the lowest in trust of others. The report cited an unfair system and a market that has not been fully regulated for driving people to seek a less principled approach to staying ahead of fierce competition, Yangcheng Evening News reported.

"A series of events in recent years have already demonstrated a trust crisis and the indifference people show strangers," said Liu Zuyun, a sociology professor from the Wuhan University, referring to events such as the death of Xiao Yueyue, a 2-and-half-year old girl who was killed when she was hit by a van and many passersby failed to stop to help her. The media has reported on the disappearance of the good Samaritan ethos that had been prevalent in the past. Many now refuse to help someone in trouble for fear they are being setup to be accused of wrongdoing.

"Despite China's booming economy, the survey shows the moral dilemma we are facing at this time," said Liu, "This trust crisis we are experiencing is based on the social idea that economic interests are more important than other aspects of life. We tend to judge people by the amount of wealth they amass. This money-oriented concept has shaken the moral standard of Chinese people."

Liu believes part of the problem is that Chinese society does not have a strong religious ethos that can provide a moral centering for some people.