“Platform rice” simply means anyone can partake, and the work remains the same regardless of who does it. The real question is whether you get to keep the profits.
Why should you be the one to earn that money? That “why” is what truly matters.
The author started a side business that required a company entity, so they registered one. The situation didn’t actually involve any legal issues with their primary employer, but the company threatened to sue them for up to five years and demanded a 150,000 RMB settlement in exchange for letting them leave with nothing. This led to over a year of litigation.
This metric reflects a city's economic dependency. A higher share outside the public sector signals stronger private-sector dynamism, while a higher public-sector share indicates greater reliance on government employment. If you're confident about landing a government job, prioritize cities with high institutional dependence; otherwise, aim for cities with a more vibrant private sector.