Inequality and Public Policy in China

the long version

Examines trends in inequality in the People's Republic of China. It contains new findings on inequality nationwide, as well as within the rural and urban sectors, with an emphasis on public policy considerations. Several chapters focus on inequality of income; others analyze poverty, inequality in wealth, and the distribution of wages. Attention is given to groups such as migrants, women, and the elderly, as well as the relationship between income and health care funding and the impact of the rural tax reform. A distinguishing feature of this book is its database. All contributors to this volume make use of a large, nationwide survey of Chinese households, the product of long-term cooperation between Chinese and international researchers that is unique in its scope and duration. Using these data, the contributors examine changes in inequality over nearly fifteen years of the transitional era, from 1988 to 2002.