But don't forget if it's household income, then it's not abnormal for a household income in Shanghai
to be 200k (each earn 100k). Plus there is some hidden income in China, which is not taxable. Also
the labor is indeed cheaper in China which make your money worth more. In addition,
don't use average income in Toronto as comparison. The rich and poor difference in Canada is
not that big, but in China the gap is quite big. If you are young, well educated, you could earn 100k to 200k, on the other side, those lost jobs, over 40s, without special skills, could earn only thousands a year, so the difference in income could be 100 times in China. Can you imagine that in Canada: you can earn 20k easily, but those working in hi-tech, could earn maybe 80k, that's only
5 times before tax. After tax, the gap is even smaller. So don't forget richness is only relative,
you earn 100k here and feel rich but when you go to San Jose, that's not good salary.
So in a word, I feel the relative life in China, especially in Shanghai, is better than here.
The rich and poor difference make that happen. Don't you see all the service area is Shanghai
are occupied by people from other parts of China. It's the same ratinal that China goods are
cheaped and can be found everywhere in here, the labor is cheaper.