China's Shanghai Sets Population at 25 Million To Avoid 'Big City Disease' (theguardian.com)

An anonymous reader shares a report: China's financial hub of Shanghai will limit its population to 25 million people by 2035 as part of a quest to manage "big city disease," authorities have said. The State Council said on its website late on Monday the goal to control the size of the city was part of Shanghai's masterplan for 2017-2035, which the government body had approved. "By 2035, the resident population in Shanghai will be controlled at around 25 million and the total amount of land made available for construction will not exceed 3,200 square kilometres," it said. State media has defined "big city disease" as arising when a megacity becomes plagued with environmental pollution, traffic congestion and a shortage of public services, including education and medical care. But some experts doubt the feasibility of the plans, with one researcher at a Chinese government thinktank describing the scheme as "unpractical and against the social development trend."

Comments

Just making more cities

[jbmartin6]

So all that will happen is there will be another city right across the street, which is managed separately. This already exists to a point in the way the separate districts are managed. But it is unclear why they think this would reverse the overall social and economic trends which are pushing growth in Shanghai.

A precursor to China's future problems?

[MtViewGuy]

Let's face it. Those who think China can replace the USA as the next superpower don't realize China has two issues they have to deal with:

1. Feeding, clothing and sheltering around 1.7 billion people--around 20% of Earth's human population.
2. A massive air and water pollution problem that is already affecting the health of many Chinese.

It's these issues that could result in health issues so gigantic that it could bankrupt that country within 20-25 years. This article is symptomatic of what will soon happen to China down the road.