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Two years on, anti-corruption drive having effect
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JUDGING by the numbers, China’s leaders were serious when they started the frugality campaign on December 4, 2012. As of September, more than 80,000 officials had been punished for breaking the rules.
Offenders were punished for dereliction of duty, indiscreet use of public vehicles, using public funds for personal entertainment, lazy styles, accepting gifts, and myriad other offenses, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China.
Two years on, the campaign is still going strong and looks likely to continue to squeeze officials’ comforts, and their excessive wining and dining, thanks to rules like the bans on new government offices and conferences in popular tourist destinations.
Ding Yuanzhu of the Chinese Academy of Governance said the frugality campaign is bringing a “new normal” state to officialdom. “On the one hand, ordinary people have felt that officials will not dare to act wildly and cross the line; on the other hand, the officials’ mentality is also changing,” said Ding.
An official from east China’s Anhui Province told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the frugality campaign has relieved him of many social engagements. “Now I can spend more time with my family eating home-cooked food, and my health has improved.”
Disciplinary watchdog
Credit should be given to the disciplinary watchdog, which over the last two years has ensured offenders are named and shamed. Zhuang Deshui, an expert on China’s anti-corruption drive, said publicly naming and shaming offenders is a deterrent to others.
The significance of the campaign lies not just in officialdom, it is also about people’s ordinary lives, how business is done in China and how people choose their careers. Ordinary people are finding it easier to get their children into schools or the army without paying bribes. Those who have suffered under the corruption culture have been emboldened to fight against it. Xinhua reported in October that restaurant owners in several places have demanded local governments pay their debts, accumulated in the form of IOUs, and generally paid with taxpayers’ money.
Lackluster luxury sales
The campaign also put a dent in China’s luxury goods sales. Bain Capital, a consulting firm, estimated that luxury goods sales in China only grew by 2 percent in 2013, a departure from previous years, which could be as high as 30 percent. The Scotch Whiskey Association reported declining sales in September, blaming anti-extravagance measures.
Others feeling the impact include luxury hotels, mooncake manufacturers and even hairy crab sellers, a delicacy mainly enjoyed by rich people and government officials. The hairy crab saw its first price cut in 12 years in September, and the food was sold at relatively affordable prices this year.
The campaign is making it easier to do business. Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Chamber of Commerce in China, thinks the campaign is leveling the business playing field. Joerg is not exaggerating. Many officials were sacked after complaints against them, so it’s easier for businessmen to get rid of problematic officials.
The frugality campaign is also changing perceptions in the job market. China’s civil service exam saw fewer applicants this year, perhaps due to the corruption crackdown.
The leaders say the campaign will not be like a gust of wind. According to a survey by Xinhua and the China Mainland Marketing Research Co., some 70 percent of respondents said there are still problems but the majority acknowledge the campaign’s positive impact.
Wu Hui from Party School of the Central Committee of CPC, said some officials are still taking chances. “What we need now is a power list that clarifies limits of power for each official and invites more external supervision.”
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