Full Description
This book explores the evolving dynamics of China's urban labor market and social hierarchies over four decades of economic reform, offering a systematic analysis of structural shifts and their societal impacts.
It begins with an overview of the key drivers that are reshaping Chinese society. This is followed by three thematic sections. Part One examines the decline of traditional systems, such as Hukou (household registration) and Danwei (work unit), revealing their diminishing role in labor market differentiation. Part Two analyzes emerging divisions and labor market segmentation via comparative and longitudinal evidence. Part Three focuses on employment disparities among college graduates and their implications for social mobility. Combining authoritative survey data from leading Chinese institutions with rigorous quantitative methods, this study bridges historical context and contemporary trends to unravel the complexities of urban stratification.
This book is essential for scholars of sociology, labor economics, and Chinese studies. It also serves as a resource for policymakers, librarians, and general readers interested in China's socioeconomic transformation.
Contents
Chapter One Introduction Part 1 Institutional Changes Chapter Two Hukou Status and Stratification Chapter Three Organization Size and Earnings Differentiations Chapter Four Structural Factors of the Wage Gap Part 2 Labor Market Segmentation Chapter Five Precarious Work and New Segmentation Chapter Six The Comparison of Segmentation Dimensions Chapter Seven Longitudinal Test of Segmentation Evidence Part 3 Employment Differentiation for University Graduates Chapter Eight Education: Job Gap and Income Chapter Nine The Urban or Rural Background and Cumulative Advantages Chapter Ten The Chosen Ones and Secondary Labor Market Postscript Bibliography
