Debate Erupts over Official Gini Figures

(Beijing) – Scholars and Net users are debating the accuracy of recent Gini coefficient figures released by the government that show incomes far more evenly distributed than academic research does.

The National Bureau of Statistics stopped publishing index findings in 2001, citing difficulty collecting data from wealthy households. However, in January it released information for the years 2003 to 2012. Analysts say the move was to help prepare for income redistribution reforms.