Moreover, the concept of market segmentation is now becoming relevant in countries that have suffered from a lot of problems and shortages in the past, but are now ex- periencing an economic development equal to that of the western countries after World War II. In particular, due to the economic liberalization processes and the on- going opening of the Chinese economy for foreign trade and investment, which hav e been carried out since 19809 , this applies to the Peoples Republic of China.
