Young Chinese still value saving money: new survey

SHANGHAI - The majority of Chinese college students see themselves as socially conscious and financially responsible, a new survey suggests, challenging the common stereotype of them being self-centered and prodigal.

The survey, by Fudan University and Shanghai Open University, pressed more than 6,300 students from 39 universities and colleges about their attitudes toward society, money and employment.

Of all respondents, 61.9 percent said they discussed social issues on the Internet. The corruption crackdown (75.7 percent) and public security (57.3 percent) were among the social issues they were most content with, while food safety (37.3 percent) and the wealth gap (32.4 percent) did not fare so well.

When asked what they would do with "spare money," 72.1 percent of the surveyed students opted for saving. Fewer than 10 percent said they would borrow to spend.

The survey also noted a drift from a preference for a "job for life." Foreign firms (23.4 percent) and being self employed (21.1 percent) were the most favored career paths, while only 8.6 percent of respondents voiced a preference for being a civil servant, a job known for its high stability and social status.

Moreover, 35.3 percent of students named career development as the top concern during job hunt, about 10 percent chose income, and fewer than 7 percent went for stability, light-work load or networking.

When it comes to social trust, 71.6 percent of those surveyed believe that most of society are trustworthy. In break-down, students from the countryside believe in that statement (75.6 percent) than those from big cities (64.4 percent).

The respondents were born between 1990 and 2000, a group known as the "post-1990s" generation in China and often labeled as being self-centered, materialist and lacking social responsibility.