As China seeks new economic growth, is it time to unleash the power of the ‘she-conomy’?
- A growing ‘she-conomy’ in China is leading to the working-age female population playing a leading role in personal spending and family purchases
- China is seeking to switch to an economic growth model that relies more on consumption, which contributed 82.5 per cent of growth last year
![Chinese women are also showing growing interest in new areas that were traditionally male-dominated, including cars and games. Photo: AP](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/04/30/fb86893c-c729-43b6-a211-d1201de5a5a9_f090ce52.jpg?itok=tWEJv6y_&v=1714469318)
For several years, Guangzhou resident Lucy Nan spent a major portion of her income on her biggest hobby – collecting crafts ranging from family antiques to paintings.
The unmarried 49-year-old even rented a small villa costing about 10,000 yuan (US$1,379) a month just to house her collection, which ranges from European ceramics to Japanese lacquerware.
“I should say I’m quite self-centred in daily life and spending … I’m willing to pay 2,000 yuan to try a nice restaurant,” said Nan, who sought higher education in Australia, but returned home after graduation.
And although earning a living working as a freelance writer and antique dealer means she does not have a regular income, Nan said her life is “quite nice” with a complete focus on herself.
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