Macro Minute: Bai Lan (Let It Rot) in China

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What is Bai Lan?

The Bai Lan (摆烂) movement, which translates to "let it rot" in Chinese, is a social phenomenon that emerged among Chinese youth in the mid-2010s and gained more attention in recent years, especially in the context of China's slowing economic growth and rising social pressures. It reflects a growing sense of disillusionment and apathy among young people, particularly those facing harsh realities such as intense job competition, high living costs, and limited opportunities for upward mobility.

The Bai Lan movement is often compared to similar youth discontent movements around the world, like Japan's "Hikikomori" or the West's "Great Resignation." It stems from a combination of economic, social, and cultural factors in China. As China's rapid economic growth slowed and societal pressures mounted, many young people began to feel a growing sense of hopelessness.

A significant driver of Bai Lan is the extreme competition in education and the job market. China’s “996” work culture, which refers to working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week, has become a norm in many industries, creating burnout. Moreover, housing prices in major cities are prohibitive, while wages for entry-level jobs remain low.

Demographic Crisis is Only Intensified by Bai Lan

Bai Lan adherents opt for simpler, less stressful lives. They might settle for jobs below their qualifications, reject the pressure to marry or buy homes, and live with minimal aspirations. It represents a form of silent protest against the relentless pressure from society to conform to traditional measures of success.

As more young people "give up" on societal pressures, including the expectations to marry, have children, and achieve conventional success, it is exacerbating an already troubling trend in China's population dynamics. For many young people, the financial burdens of raising children, coupled with housing affordability issues and stagnant wages, make parenthood seem unattainable.

The movement includes a shift in attitudes toward relationships and marriage. Marriages have dropped by half in the last ten years alone, and since COVID divorces have outpaced marriages by 2.3 times. Many young people in the Bai Lan movement express disillusionment with the conventional trajectory of life: getting a stable job, getting married, and having children. This rejection of marriage is a critical component of declining fertility rates. Fewer marriages directly translate to fewer births, particularly in a society where childbearing is still closely tied to marriage.

As more people embrace Bai Lan and choose not to have children, the social fabric of China will likely continue to shift. A shrinking population can lead to labor shortages and lower economic productivity. Additionally, the burden of caring for an aging population will increasingly fall on fewer younger people, putting even more pressure on those who are still participating in the workforce.

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Read more about China's terrifying demographic crisis.

Conclusion

The Bai Lan movement only continues to grow as it reshapes both the social and economic fabric of China. The pressures of the old economic growth model have led many young people to abandon traditional measures of success, leading to long-term implications for China's demographic and economic future. In short, it is a total disaster for the current Chinese system and government, making their economy unstable and giving a reason for more harsh communist policies.

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