Ubran myth? The facts don't support that notion. At approximately 15% of their total population, the number of city-dwellers in China is still bigger than most countries. The Chinese also save far more than most people in the world, so it's not like they don't have money to spend. Their per-capita income is estimated at $800 per year, but this number is heavily skewed due to the artificial valuation of their currency, and the low price of consumer goods; in terms of "buying power", it's closer to $3200 per year. China's GDP has been growing at a frenetic rate for 40 years, and nobody expects it to stop anytime soon. The Chinese are also beginning to travel around the world in very large numbers, and what do people want to bring back? Pictures! China also has a "yuppie" crowd, and they like to be noticed. You will see them in Starbucks in Shanghai or Beijing. They like to be seen as influential, and they like to be flashy. An expensive 35mm camera is one of the things that would set them apart from the crowd. So, don't count them out when it comes to influencing manufacturers.
John ----Mike Johnston wrote This is an urban myth. Some 85% of Chinese are rural peasants who depend on small scale agriculture and trade mostly in barter economies. They might buy a Coke on occasion if it's available, but they're not consumers in the sense the developed world uses the term. The actual Chinese market is about the same size as India's. --Mike - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
