Austerity push has gone into overdrive, officials say, with top-down escalation in full play as local authorities seek to prove loyalty
Several officials interviewed said that the lifestyle change, even if temporary, was largely prompted by the ever-shifting local austerity measures, which could be even more stringent than the regulations originating from the central state and party bodies.
An official in southwestern Sichuan province surnamed Luo said his department head had announced a dine-out ban in early May, saying “eating out during this period is not good for you”.
“It is the latest ramification ofceng ceng jia ma,” Luo said.
Ceng ceng jia main Mandarin translates as “adding extra layer upon layer of control”.
