What major economic challenge arose during Jiang Zemin's tenure?

During Jiang Zemin's tenure, one of the significant economic challenges was environmental degradation. As China experienced rapid economic growth and industrialization in the 1990s, the environmental consequences became increasingly pronounced. The push for modernization often came at the expense of the environment, leading to pollution, deforestation, and other ecological issues. Jiang's administration had to grapple with the negative impacts of economic policies that did not prioritize environmental sustainability, prompting concerns about health, quality of life, and the long-term viability of economic growth.

High rates of literacy and education are generally seen as positive developments rather than challenges, while strengthened agricultural output would typically contribute to economic stability and growth. A reduction in state enterprise productivity does highlight issues within specific sectors, yet it was the broader and increasingly pressing concern of environmental degradation—affected by the scale of industrial growth—that became a defining challenge of that era.