College Enrollment Not Panacea

The Ministry of Education recently announced that the nationwide enrollment quota for graduate students was to be raised by 50,000 this year.

SPEND, PLEASE: Local governments are offering rural Chinese subsidized household appliances to stimulate consumer spending (GU XIANGZHONG)

The primary reason for the expanded enrollment is undoubtedly that the current economic downturn is reducing job opportunities. However, the scarcity of jobs for college graduates is not a new challenge. Therefore, the employment problem is not only attributable to the ongoing crisis, but is being worsened by it.

Several years ago, faced with the Asian financial crisis, the government decided to expand undergraduate enrollment in order to boost domestic demand. Today, hit by the current global financial turbulence, the government is considering expanding graduate student enrollment. It seems universities are the panacea for economic woes. Higher education is not a tool for the government to stimulate the economy, but an important system for the nation's future. However, the already overstretched education system has created a large number of academically incapable students with dwindling employment prospects.

Fundamentally, the new round of enrollment expansion means to shift the employment pressure to the coming years. What if the economy does not recover in two years' time? Is it still necessary for students to study for a PhD?

Oriental Morning Post

Clean Corrupt SOEs

According to statistics offered by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, which is responsible for managing China's 160 largest state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the highest-earning executive of these enterprises received 1.18 million yuan ($170,000) last year. Even the lowest-earning one was paid 200, 000 yuan (nearly $30,000), which was 12 times the national per-capita income of $2,360 in 2007.

The National Audit Office, however, said in February 2008 that among senior executives of the 160 enterprises, 38 were found guilty of corruption.

Those top dogs had admirably high salaries. Why was this not enough to keep them clean? The key is the overwhelming but unrestrained power they possess. When someone has supreme power, the opportunities for abuse become very tempting.

Does a high salary really nourish honesty? In reality, seldom do we see corporate executives committing fraud because they are too poor. Instead, growing wealth makes people greedier.

In today's SOEs, the man at the top has the final say on almost everything. It's almost impossible for supreme power not to give birth to corruption.

We need clean bosses in SOEs. It is clear that high salaries alone cannot resolve this problem. What we need is a more effective system that restricts the rampant power of these senior leaders and punishes those who are found to be corrupt.

Guangzhou Daily

Keep Farmers Informed

From the beginning of this year, rural residents in several provinces and regions across China can claim a 10-percent rebate from the government on purchases of designated brands and models of household appliances. The policy is implemented to boost rural consumption.

However, in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, some retailers were recently found tricking farmers in buying expensive TV sets and refrigerators that are not on the subsidy list.

Why are some people intent on cheating folks in the countryside? The basic reason is that farmers have little access to relevant information. Most of them still do not know which brands and models are subsidized. Manufacturers are advertising mostly on the Internet and in newspapers, both of which are largely inaccessible in rural areas. This undoubtedly provides a good opportunity for some immoral businesses to take a chance.

In order to prevent similar frauds, the government must strengthen the monitoring of prices of subsidized products. On the other hand, retailers that deceive buyers must be severely punished. Local media should name and shame corrupt businesses, and officials should help villagers safeguard their rights and interests.

Qianjiang Evening News

Thrifty Meetings Good Example

The 2009 sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top legislative and advisory bodies, are ongoing in Beijing. In order to save money and go green, the two sessions have cut short their duration and are offering environmentally friendly service to attendees.

Before the two sessions, the Central Government also issued a circular, requiring governments at various levels to reduce administrative expenses.

The frugal sessions set up a good example for the rest of the country. If all people's congresses and CPPCC committees, at central and local levels, as well as their standing committees, can slash various budgets and publish their expenses to the public, it will send a strong message to the public in these economically tough times.

It's really hoped that the thrifty practice will continue long after the two sessions conclude. A conservation-oriented government will surely win more support from the public.

Yanzhao Evening News