The ‘lying flat’ movement standing in the way of China’s innovation drive | Brookings
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Over the past decade, China’s leadership has identified innovation as the way forward for economic and social development. The promise of innovation has been epitomized by China’s tech entrepreneurs, including billionaire founders like Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Tencent’s Pony Ma. But the dream of innova
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Summary
- 📈 **Skyrocketing Costs**: Young Chinese professionals, despite elite degrees, struggle with high living costs, making it hard to afford a comfortable lifestyle.
- 🛑 **Consumer Restraint**: The "lying flat" movement promotes a rejection of traditional milestones like buying property, getting married, or having children, as a response to societal pressures.
- 💼 **Overwork Culture**: The harsh "996" work culture (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week) in China's tech sector has led to burnout and health crises among workers, prompting movements like "lying flat."
- 🚨 **Previous Rebellions**: The "996.ICU" campaign in 2019 highlighted extreme work conditions, but failed to enact significant change in the tech industry, with leaders like Jack Ma defending the culture.
- ⚖️ **Social Costs**: The Chinese government faces the challenge of addressing the despair among younger generations while promoting innovation, as slogans of struggle may not suffice to inspire future workers.
Top Highlights
- Over the past decade, China’s leadership has identified innovation as the way forward for economic and social development. The promise of innovation has been epitomized by China’s tech entrepreneurs, including billionaire founders like Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Tencent’s Pony Ma. But the dream of innovation has collided with the harsh reality of overwo...
- Skyrocketing living costs in China’s cities have also meant that many young Chinese, even with elite college degrees, find it difficult to cover the basics, much less afford a life of conspicuous consumption.
- consumer boom has been fueled by government policies to encourage domestic consumption.
- “Don’t buy property; don’t buy a car; don’t get married; don’t have children; and don’t consume.”
- At a conference in May for engineers and scientists, Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged greater self-reliance in science and technology, which would serve, he said, as “the strategic support for national development.”
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