Business Quote by Nien Cheng
““Pilfering was common in Communist China’s state-owned enterprises, as the Party secretaries were slack in guarding properties that belonged to the government and poorly paid workers felt it fair compensation for their low pay. The practice was so widespread that it was an open secret. The workers joked about it and called it "Communism," which in Chinese translation means "sharing property.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng, 1979
State enterprises in Communist China suffered chronic theft because officials were lax and workers, underpaid, felt justified in taking what they needed.
In simple terms: Workers stole from the state, seeing it as sharing property.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how systemic neglect fuels informal economies.
Themes
corruption
economics
social justice
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
historical
sociopolitical
When to use this quote
- industrial workplaces
- government agencies
- low‑wage sectors
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
state property
informal economies
moral hazard
Questions to Reflect On
- What structural changes could reduce such theft?
- How does perceived fairness affect rule‑breaking?
A Different Perspective
The narrative may overgeneralize individual motives and ignore broader political context.
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