Mandarins and Merchants: After Tiananmen

Even as late as 1989, most young Chinese professionals believed they could predict their entire future lives. But when the Chinese government followed the Tiananmen killings with vigorous promotion of free enterprise, the rules began to change daily. The security of assigned jobs free housing and other benefits dwindled or disappeared as more initiative to “get rich” was encouraged. This account, based on personal observations during the two years after Tiananmen, follows a number of young ...