Chinanews, Shanghai, August 24 – “Nowadays, many middle-class Chinese can’t afford expensive housing, which might lead to severe problems,” said Li Yingsheng, a researcher of the School of Sociology & Population Studies of the Renmin University of China.First, it will definitely affect social stability, as well-off middle-class people usually play a vital part in a healthy society.Second, it will widen the sharp polarization. Statistics show that the 20% of the urban population with the highest income earn 19 times more than the poorest 20%, while the figure in developed countries is only 10 times. Besides, estate usually takes up a large share of family property in China. That is to say, those middle-class people who can’t afford housing now might be reduced to the low-income class with the housing price soaring continuously.Third, many people who have bought houses of their own have to spend the better part of their income on repaying loans, thus their life quality can not be guaranteed, not to mention that the heavy loans might deprive their children and themselves of the chance to get better education in the future.“True, the housing industry should be market-oriented, but it should also be the government’ s key responsibility to help those who can’t afford commercial housing. However, I am sorry to say that the Chinese government has yet to work a specific plan for helping middle-class people in this aspect,” concluded Li.