What If My Family Belongs to Upper Class in China or Russia - Essay Example

I. Short autobiography My family belongs to typical upper middle American. Both of my parents work and I can say that we live a relatively comfortable life. We own our house, our cars and goes to vacation once or twice a year. My parents were also able to afford to send me in college where tuition feeas are quite expensive. By the time I have graduated college, it is expected that I will have my own job and move out from my parents house and have a life on my own. My parents are successful in their careers and is also well connected. II. Born in Communist China: compare and contrast The equivalent of my life here in United States in China will be those of privilege elite who have connections to the power centers in China. My parents belongs to several generation of Guanxi where I am expected to inherit his position. a. Finding a place to live If I will be living in China, I better be sure with the place that I will live. It is because the Chinese government prohibits the reselling of houses as their policy response to avoid speculation in the housing industry. I will be stuck in the house that I will choose for a very long period of time so I better take my time before buying a house. Unlike in the US where the housing market is determined by market forces as enunciated by Friedman in the book Capitalism and Freedom where price and availability is determined by the law of supply and demand where I can resell my house anytime I want it subject to the same law (supply and demand), Chinese government will just not allow the resell and even pegged the price. China may now allows private ownership of houses only with restrictions. With my present economic stature, I believe I would be able to afford a house and not in a crampy apartment or shoebox as what Hedrick Smith had described in his book The Russians. Only that my house will not form part of my estate where I can resell for profit or I will go to jail. b. Choosing an occupation If I will be in China, choosing my occupation will be partly determined with how the “opportunities” present to me. Unlike in the US where choosing an occupation is determined by personal preference and applying on it base on merit, it will be different in China. The cliche its whom you know more than what you know applies. If my father belongs to a Guanxi or the network of power elites, he may recommend me to some of his associates in the network as expounded by McGregor in his book The Party and will accept whatever occupation that will be given to me. From there, my future will be secured because I will be under the patronage and care of my father’s Guanxi and I will later develop my own network. I will first learn the rope of the business until I am given responsibilities that will secure my future. Or if I am in Russia, my family may be part of that elite with hidden privileges or dachas of the elite (Smith) where I can have jobs in the companies of my father. Unlike in the US where the market and jobs are determined by Friedman’s reiteration of Adam Smith’s invisible hand where members of society are left on their own to create prosperity through their own efforts, the Communist Party is the one who determine largely the opportunities for young professionals in China. They are the single government unit that basically appoints everybody from government cabinet members to CEO’s and executives of big business and their judgement cannot be questioned nor are they required to explain the basis of their appointments. If my family belongs to their network, it is very favourable to me. But if it is not, it is very likely that I will remain a middle class for the rest of my life no matter how hard I work. If you compare that situation in the US, it is like there is this single government party, either Republican or Democrat (only one must exist) that appoints everybody in business, government and media and the people there are friends of my dad who are part of his Guanxi which explains why my future is pretty secure as long as I do not make trouble. c. Achieving a higher standard of living than your parents.  China has not yet achieved its full potential and it is only recent that it became the second largest economy in the world. Such, the wealth of the economy has not yet totally tricked down and enjoyed by many. During my parents time, China still underwent the centrally planned stage under Mao Tse-tung where China was still poor. They may be in a privilidge class before but still, it is still relatively economically poor due to the abject poverty of China during those times when it shut itself from the world. They may have attained prosperity now but it is just recent. Wealth is accumulated over time. And they did not have much time yet to accumulate it compared to where I am now who was born during China’s boom and still has a very long time to accumulate wealth and therefore plenty of opportunity to have a higher standard of living compared to my parents. d. Becoming a member of the economic and/or political elite If my father belongs to one of China’s Guanxi or enjoying Russia’s dacha privilige, I surely will live a wonderful time there particularly in Russia. It is because in Russia, there are privilieges that are reserved for the elite such as secret rock concerts reserved only for the priviliged few. I may become spoiled there. If I will be in China, life will not be as fun compared to Russia if my father belongs to a Guanxi particularly if I am the only son. I will be expected to follow his footsteps and such will be trained early. I anticipate that school will be rigorous and I will be introduced to his friends as his son. After graduating college, I may be taken in the company of one of my father’s Guanxi to get experience then sent abroad for graduate school. When I come back, I will be introduced to my dad’s Guanxi and from there, I will make my own network and belong to China’s economic and political elite. I have to make friends with the officers of the Communist Party, give gifts here and there as a sign of goodwill and nurture relationships to become officially part of their Guanxi. In conclusion, my life would be relatively easier if my family belongs to upper class in China or Russia with connections to the power and economic elite. I will have a very huge headstart compared to my peers because the opportunities will be given to me in a silver platter courtesy of my parents and all I have to do is to accept it and not complain. Compared to life in the United States, I really have to work by myself if I want a good future. Even if my parents belongs to upper middle class in American society, the most they can do is prepare me in life by giving me education and maybe some inheritances. But the moment I get out of college and begun looking for occupation or business, I will have to work on it on my own. There may be some old school network but it is not as powerful as China’s Guanxi and can only do very little if any. Read More