le. Many workers send part of their wages home to their family farms, helping the rural poor survive and even thrive. Some workers have made so much money that they have returned to their villages to build large homes, further depleting the supply of arable land.
That points to the issue of housing, another problem resulting from ChinaÆs new-found affluence. Traditionally, a compound would house an extended family incorporating several generations and in-laws. Now, as young people become wealthier, they are striking out on their own. China already has built out, as cities have consumed outlying areas, and built up, as skyscrapers dominate many urban areas. China faced a housing crunch even if its family structure remained unaltered, but the combination of ChinaÆs growing population and the changes in the family dynamic could put the country in quite a bind.
Another consequence of ChinaÆs emerging economy is its impact on education. In rural areas, education has traditionally been spotty at best, especially for girls
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