Rising Inequality in China
Challenges to a Harmonious Society

This book examines the evolution of economic inequality in China from 2002 to 2007; a sequel to Inequality and Public Policy in China (2008).

Shi Li (Edited by), Hiroshi Sato (Edited by), Terry Sicular (Edited by)

9781107529267, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 May 2015

530 pages, 55 b/w illus. 163 tables
23 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm, 0.75 kg

'… the book does exactly what it sets out to do: that is, to thoroughly assess inequality in China across a wide range of dimensions. To this end, [it] is crammed with insights that, if emphasized and pursued further, offer potential starting points for exciting new research.' Dimitar D. Gueorguiev, Pacific Affairs

This book, a sequel to Inequality and Public Policy in China (2008), examines the evolution of inequality in China from 2002 to 2007, a period when the new 'harmonious society' development strategy was adopted under Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao. It fills a gap in knowledge about the outcomes of this development strategy for equity and inequality. Drawing on original information collected from the recent two waves of nationwide household surveys conducted by the China Household Income Project, this book provides a detailed overview of recent trends in income inequality and cutting-edge analysis of key factors underlying such trends. Topics covered include inequality in education, changes in homeownership and the distribution of housing wealth, the evolution of the migrant labor market, disparities between public and non-public sectors, patterns of work and non-work, gender, ethnicity, and the impacts of public policies such as reforms in taxation and social welfare programs.

1. Introduction: rising inequality in China Li Shi, Hiroshi Sato and Terry Sicular
2. Overview: income inequality and poverty in China, 2002–7 Li Shi, Luo Chuliang and Terry Sicular
3. Housing ownership, incomes, and inequality in China, 2002–7 Hiroshi Sato, Terry Sicular and Yue Ximing
4. Educational inequality in China: the intergenerational dimension John Knight, Terry Sicular and Yue Ximing
5. Inequality and poverty in rural China Luo Chuliang and Terry Sicular
6. The evolution of the migrant labor market in China, 2002–7 John Knight, Deng Quheng and Li Shi
7. A new episode of increased urban income inequality in China Deng Quheng and Björn Gustafsson
8. Unemployment and the rising number of non-workers in urban China: causes and distributional consequences Björn Gustafsson and Ding Sai
9. Do employees in the public sector still enjoy earnings advantages? Yang Juan, Sylvie Démurger and Li Shi
10. Redistributive impacts of personal income tax in urban China Xu Jing and Yue Ximing
11. Changes in the gender wage gap in urban China, 1995–2007 Li Shi and Song Jin
12. Inter-temporal changes in ethnic urban earnings disparities in China Ding Sai, Li Shi and Samuel L. Myers, Jr
Appendix I. The 2007 household surveys: sampling methods and data description Luo Chuliang, Li Shi, Terry Sicular, Deng Quheng and Yue Ximing
Appendix II. The 2002 and 2007 CHIP surveys: sampling, weights, and combining the urban, rural, and migrant samples Song Jin, Terry Sicular and Yue Ximing.

Subject Areas: Welfare economics [KCR], Development economics & emerging economies [KCM], Employment & unemployment [KCFM], Labour economics [KCF], Poverty & unemployment [JFFA]