China Herald: Why so many billionaires in China are women

Rupert Hoogewerf

Hurun published last week their annual Rich list, and its founder Rupert Hoogewerf has been wondering why women in China are doing so much better on this list, compared to other countries. One asset of the one-child policy. In Women of China.

Women of China:

About a quarter of the list's 50 wealthiest women work in real estate; 18% of them are involved in finance. China's richest women are generally younger than their male counterparts, with an average age of 48 compared with 52.

"What I've asked myself is: why are Chinese women so successful? I think there are a number of different dynamics at play," said Rupert Hoogewerf, the Hurun Report's publisher and chairman. "One is that there's the one-child policy, which means that they have a very short career break, compared with someone who has three children or more. Plus there's the fact that in Chinese society, children are brought up by grandparents, traditionally," giving mothers more time to pursue their careers.

"Another dynamic is that it might just be this generation – relatively speaking, they're much more successful here than in the rest of the world," he added.

More in Women of China.

Rupert Hoogewerf is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.

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