Work and Inequality in Urban China

Yanjie Bian is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota.

"The work under review provides systematic evidence of the importance of organizational location in the system of rewards in one Chinese city and invites us to think more deeply about the sources of segmentation phenomena....The resulting book is a wide-ranging and informative discussion of the dynamics of stratification in urban China, set in a comparative context. It should be of interest not only to those interested in Chinese society, but also to any student of comparative stratification." — Martin King Whyte, Contemporary Sociology"In Work and Inequality in Urban China, Yanjie Bian has filled an important gap in the study of work in urban China. Although others have done research and published in this area, this particular study offers a great deal of previously unavailable information. Bian's is a richly detailed and systematic study of the system of work in China and the role of work in sustaining and even fostering inequality in China." — Nancy E. Riley, Work and Occupation"By addressing the central position of the workplace in urban inequality with both theoretical rigor and empirical support, Bian has no doubt produced a major work that contributes significantly to the understanding of the patterns and mechanisms of social inequality under socialism. It provides not only a lot of information on and insight into China's urban workplace organization, but, more importantly, also an admirable approach—that of treating social inequality in China from the aspect of its organizations. This is a book that every student of social stratification in socialist societies, especially in China, should read. And it will affect thinking and work in the areas of social structure and social inequality in China for years to come." — Feng Wang, China Review International"A distinctive contribution...this book must be praised as empirically rich, analytically clear, and theoretically informed. Anyone concerned with coming to a more comprehensive and systematic understanding of the institutional structures and structural inequalities of urban China must read it." — Tak Chuen Luk, American Journal of Sociology"This is a very important sociological work. It is based on a massive survey data which is expensive and difficult to come by. It brings out the actual workings of the Chinese way of life and adds a great deal to the sociological understanding of Chinese society." — Yung-mei Tsai, Texas Tech University

• Figures and Tables Acknowledgments 1. Structural Segmentation and Social StratificationStructural Segmentation as a Perspective of StratificationWorkplace Segmentation in Pre-Reform ChinaLabor, Management, and Incentives in Pre-Reform ChinaSegmentation in a Planned Commodity EconomySources of Data and Related IssuesOrganization of the Book 2. Structures and Functions of Work OrganizationsThe Ownership StructureThe Bureaucratic StructureThe Distribution of Resources and IncentivesSocio-Political Functions of the WorkplaceSummary 3. Urban Employment: Policies and PracticesManpower Policies in Mao's Era: 1949-1976Labor Policies in the Era of Market Reform: After1976Direct State AssignmentsIndirect State AssignmentsDirect Individual ApplicationSummary 4. The Chinese Version of Status AttainmentStatus Inheritance and the Father's Work UnitEducational Achievement versus Political VirtueModeling Status Attainment in the Chinese ContextEntering the State SectorEntering a Higher-Ranked Work UnitGetting an OccupationSummary 5. Guanxi and Social Resources in Job Searchesand Job MobilityGuanxi as Social Networks and SocialResourcesGuanxi and First JobGuanxi and Job MobilitySummary 6. Party MembershipThe Road to the Communist Party in ChinaBehind the Scene: Social Factors in Party RecruitmentParty Membership Attainment: HypothesesAnalysis of Party Membership in TianjinParty Membership as a Path to Power ElitesSummary 7. WagesTypes of WagesWage Reforms and Corresponding Salary SystemsSalary StandardsThe Bonus SystemDeterminants of Salary and Bonus Distributions:HypothesesWage Differentials: Aggregate DataWage Attainment: Individual DataSummary 8. Collective ConsumptionLabor Insurance and BenefitsCollective Welfare Programs and SubsidiesHousing and Community ResourcesSummary 9. Segmentation and Inequality: Conclusions and DiscussionConclusionsStructural Segmentation in Market and Planned SystemsMarket Reforms and Social Inequalities in China Appendix A: Survey of Work and Occupations of Tianjin Urban ResidentsAppendix B: List of Personal InterviewsAppendix C: Measurement of Key Status Variables Used in Tables 2.2 to 8.4 Glossary Notes Bibliography Index