Social development in China

Progress and problems

Bibliographic Data

ID3986190
AuthorsKwong-Leung Tang, Kwong‐leung Tang (University of Northern British Columbia, corresponding author)
Year1999
Volume29
Issue1
Pages95-108
Publication date1999-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Contemporary Asia (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0047-2336 • E-ISSN: 1752-7554
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00472339980000061
PMID21987865
OpenAlexW1983920046
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited10

China has undergone spectacular economic growth in the last 15 years. Concomitant to this growth has been a rising standard of living. This article looks at various social indicators to gauge the extent of social development in China. Compared to other developing countries, China has made great srides in the United Nations Human Development Index. However, China is still beset with problems such as absolute poverty and growing income disparities. Social development is plagued by problems of inadequate social spending, inflation, and urban bias. The vulnerability of groups like women and rural migrants is also worring. It is argued here that such problems could be dealt with by the central government since it has deep financial reserves and political power. It remains to be seen if the government will do so, since the political will to redress these problems is obviously undermined by an increased acceptance of a neo-liberal approach to social policy which gives primacy to market and family support over state interventions

China · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Government (linguistics · Market economy · Political science · Politics · Poverty · Redress · Social change · Social policy · Social security · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · Income, Poverty, and Inequality · Social Policy and Reform Studies