Economic Development, Labor Transference, And Minority Education in the West of China

Abstract

In order to achieve a balance of socioeconomic development between the East and West in the new century, the Chinese government launched "the national strategy of developing the West" in 1999. This strategy is also a part of the governmental plan to promote "domestic needs" as a motor to continual economic growth by huge investment in infrastructure in the West. However, because of the impact of a traditional planning economy and the low quality of the local labor force, this strategy also leads to competition between local laborers and in-migrants. The indigenous ethnic minorities in the West will have to face serious challenges due to their disadvantages in education. Ethnic tension, that might be associated with religious and political separatism, will be a fatal threat to the success of the strategy. Based on the analysis of census and statistical data of occupation and education, this article identifies the major social problem and discusses the possibilities to improve minority education and raise their opportunities in the labor market.