Despite the wealth Zhu had generated for the country as a whole, rural Chinese began to feel that they were bearing an unfair share of the costs. While a rising tide did lift all boats, Zhu’s attempts to appease urban areas had started widening the gap between rich and poor. As Zhu prepared to hand over power to the next generation of leaders, Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, bankers and venture capitalists joined the ranks of China’s Communist Party.

Charlene Barshefsky again on Zhu’s importance to China’s growth: