China and India Economic Growth Affecting Wellbeing differently.pdfVIP

September 20, 2007 China and India: Economic Growth Affecting Well- Being Differently Despite rapid economic growth in both countries, perceptions of personal well-being vary by Nicole Naurath GALLUP NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Among the worlds oldest civilizations, China and India have endured periods of occupation, colonization and expansion, and today comprise the two largest populations in the world. Both nations are rapidly modernizing and have experienced tremendous economic growth in the past decades while choosing different paths toward development. China pushes reforms at lightning speed, while India is more deliberate. Chinas economic reforms have been in place longer, with growth rates outpacing those in India. Despite these differences, both countries have experienced remarkable reductions in poverty and increases in middle class populations in recent years. Measures of well-being collected by the Gallup World Poll reveal differences in how reform and growth appear to be affecting everyday life for each population. Of those surveyed, the Chinese (84%) were more likely than Indians (56%) to say that they were able to spend their time the day before the survey as they pleased. More Chinese than Indians said they were treated with respect the previous day (85% versus 69%, respectively), and more were proud of something that they accomplished that day (40% versus 33% of Indians). The Chinese were also more likely to indicate that they felt happy the previous day: 78% said they smiled or laughed a lot that day (compared to 62% of Indians), and 81% said they experienced a lot of enjoyment (compared to 72% of Indians). In other areas, however, Indians seemed more positive. Fewer Indians (12%) than Chinese (21%) claimed to have experienced a lot of boredom on the day preceding the survey, while more Indians (64% versus 51% of Chinese) said that they ate good tasting food the day before the survey. Slightly more Indians (65%) than