Regarding the Oct. 27 editorial, "China feels the pinch": Massive numbers of people have moved from the countryside to China's cities in the past 30 years because jobs were available there. If the economy slows down and jobs dry up, fewer people will move. Chinese authorities would to like to see a growth rate of about 8 percent so that the economy doesn't overheat.
To say that China needs a growth rate of at least that much is an exaggeration. If China grows at 7 percent per year for the next 10 years, it will double its current output, assuming that population growth is between 1 and 1.5 percent per year. If inflation can be kept between 4 and 5 percent, the standard of living will still go up. If China does not end up doing too much, it will be in good shape.
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