Understanding Inequality in China

The book "Understanding Inequality in China: The Contribution of the Chinese General Social Survey" is an edited volume that provides a comprehensive analysis of social inequality in contemporary China. Here is a detailed overview of the book:

Key Themes

1. Inequality Dynamics: The book explores the dynamics of inequality in China, focusing on topics such as education stratification, income inequality, career mobility, and intergenerational mobility.
2. Structural Factors: It examines how structural collective mechanisms, such as regions, work units (danwei), and the household registration (hukou) system, contribute to inequality.
3. Merit-Based Inequality: The book discusses how traditional Chinese political ideology promotes merit-based inequality, where administrative performance is measured by the provision of public goods to ordinary people.
4. Economic Development: It addresses how many Chinese people view inequality as an inevitable cost of economic development, a perspective reinforced by state propaganda.

Plot Summary

The book is a collection of research articles published in the Chinese Sociological Review from 2011 to 2023, utilizing data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). It reflects the advancement of the field over the past decade, providing a rich source for understanding inequality dynamics in contemporary China. The CGSS data, launched in 2003 and modeled after the US General Social Survey, offers insights into educational stratification, career mobility, and intergenerational mobility during both the pre-reform and reform eras.

Critical Reception

While specific reviews of the book are not provided in the sources, the book is recognized as a significant contribution to the field of Chinese social stratification. It extends beyond initial interests in the social consequences of market transition, offering a nuanced understanding of evolving inequality in China.

Additional Context

The book is part of a broader academic discussion on understanding inequality in China, with other notable works by scholars like Yu Xie also contributing to this field. Xie's work emphasizes the importance of considering China's inequality within the context of its history, culture, politics, and economy.

In summary, "Understanding Inequality in China: The Contribution of the Chinese General Social Survey" is a comprehensive and timely resource that advances the understanding of Chinese social stratification by examining various facets of inequality in contemporary China.