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Chinese Journal of Society ›› 2016, Vol. 2 ›› Issue (3): 327-347.doi: 10.1177/2057150X16654059

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  • 出版日期:2016-07-01 发布日期:2016-07-01

Understanding inequality in China

Yu Xie1,2   

  1. 1 Center for Social Research, Peking University, China 2 Center on Contemporary China, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA
  • Online:2016-07-01 Published:2016-07-01
  • Contact: Yu Xie, Center on Contemporary China, Princeton University, 186 Wallace Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. Email: yuxie@princeton.edu

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Abstract:

Drawing on past research, including my own, I set forth the following propositions: (1) inequality in China has been generated and maintained by structural collective mechanisms, such as regions and work units; (2) traditional Chinese political ideology has promoted merit-based inequality, with merit being perceived as functional in improving the collective welfare for ordinary people; and (3) many Chinese people today regard inequality as an inevitable consequence of economic development. Thus, it seems unlikely that social inequality alone would lead to political and social unrest in today’s China.

Key words: Attitude/ideology, China, economic development, inequality