International Law

China?s commodity ration coupons

By Andy Scott

China began issuing commodity ration coupons (known as liang piao) in the 1950s, with specific coupons issued for foodstuffs, fuel, even bicycles. Without them you were not permitted to purchase the goods. The system, which was only finally abolished in 1995, ensured that under the collective system, everyone got their fair share. Pictured are food coupons, with the unit measurement denoting the weight (not currency) of the produce. Measured in jin (about 0.5 kilo) these depict ration coupons for 10, 5, 2 and 1 jin.

These particular coupons were issued in Shanxi Province in 1981 and were used for the allocation and purchase of rice and grain. The average ration was 15 kilograms for a man and 13 kilograms for a woman each month, though it varied somewhat with age, profession and location. These coupons were given per person, no matter how poor or rich that person was, therefore these food ration coupons (also known as rice coupons) were and are much scarcer than Chinese RMB yuan bank notes.

With rising inflation a growing concern for Beijing, the Guangdong People?s Congress has proposed reintroducing the food rations to ensure that low-level income families have access to basic necessities. (more…)

Full post as published by China Briefing Blog on February 11, 2008 (boomark / email).