It's called the new semester economy, parents buying digital equipment for their college-going children.

An article in the Beijing Youth Daily questions the expenditure (excerpts below).

The so-called "new semester economy" does not directly leads to an improvement in learning ability. Spending a lot of money on products will not automatically deliver good results.

This expenditure has become a good business opportunity to promote the sales of student-related products.

According to media reports, many parents spend at least 10,000 yuan ($1,600) in purchasing mobile phones and laptops. This is on top of the other expenses, such as clothes, food, etc.

A survey by a leading family institute revealed that urban families' annual expenditure on education accounts for 76.1 percent of the overall expenditure of raising children.

Education has become a heavy economic burden for families. It exposes weak State investment in education.

This must change.