中國大陸的國民生產總值(GDP)在2010年第二季度超過日本，2010年成為世界第二大經濟體順利成章。若是中國大陸依照過去30年平均10%左右的經濟成長速度，預估在2030年就可超越美國成為全球最大經濟體。然而中國聲稱其發展的是有中國特色的社會主義市場經濟，即國家主導市場的發展模式，不過這樣的經濟發展模式，隨著參與國際經濟愈來愈深，究竟還能走多遠？
美國智庫卡內基和平基金會副總裁包道格表示，崛起的中國正面臨統治者與被統治者間的問題、統治階層的競爭及國家主導市場導向與資本主義間的矛盾。其中國家主導市場導向與資本主義間的矛盾，實際上就是對於有中國特色的社會主義市場經濟能否繼續發展下去有所質疑。研究發現若是未能達成共同富裕的目標，有中國特色的社會主義市場經濟，將很難繼續走下去，這也是中國大陸領導集體在「十二五規劃」重提共同富裕的原因。

Mainland China exceeded Japan as the world second largesteconomy in 2010 without any doubts. If Mainland China maintain10% annual economy growth rate averagely the same as it did forthe past 30 years, approximately it will overtake the US as theworld’s No.1 economy in 2030. However, Mainland China arguesthat it is developing socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics,but the follow-up question would be how far this kind ofmodel of development could move forward as China’s economy becomemore and more deeply integrated into the global economy.
Douglas Paal, vice president of Carnegie Endowment for InternationalPeace, says that the rising China faces discords betweenrulers and the ruled; between the rulers and their internal competitors;and between state and market capitalism. In a way, the discordbetween state and market capitalism casts doubts on whether socialistmarket economy with Chinese characteristics could moveon. This paper finds out that if the target of common fortunate isunable to be reached, then it will be hard for socialist market economywith Chinese characteristics to move on. That is the reasonwhy the leading group of Chinese Communist Party would reemphasizecommon fortunate in China’s 12th five-year plan.