Private Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Distribution, and Social Welfare Reform in Urban China

During the 1990s, when the Chinese urban labour market and social security reforms accelerated, average urban household wealth increased more than three fold and the distribution of wealth widened. We will document this significant change and examine its relationship to past and future social welfare reform. This project will: Be the first study of wealth accumulation and distribution in China over the 1990s. Add to our knowledge of the interrelationship between wealth accumulation, distribution and political power during economic transition. Contribute to a better design of a new social welfare system. Develop lessons and policy implications that will be broadly applicable to most transitional and developing economies. The project will produce at least seven journal articles and one book.