The Rise of the Middle Class in Contemporary China

Series Editor’s Preface
The Year 2020: A Historic Choice of Economic Transformation and Upgrading
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction
2 The Urgent Need for the Rise of the Middle Class in Contemporary China
2.1 A New Question of Contemporary China’s Development in Its New Stage
2.1.1 New Challenges Contemporary China Is Facing to Leap Over the “Middle-Income Trap”
2.1.2 New Requirements for Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects in the New Phase of the Great National Transformation
2.2 The Necessity and Urgency of the “Rising” Middle Class in Contemporary China
2.2.1 The Urgent Need of Millions of People to Pursue Common Prosperity
2.2.2 The Urgent Need to Solve the Prominent Issues in Income Distribution in China
2.2.3 The Urgent Need to Promote the Adjustment of China’s Economic Structure and the Expanding of Domestic Demand
2.2.4 The Urgent Need to Form a Rational Social Structure and Maintain Long-Term Social Stability
2.2.5 The Urgent Need to Implement Relevant Fundamental Policies of the CPC Central Committee
3 The Origin and Development of the Middle Class
3.1 What Is the Middle Class
3.1.1 A Brief Introduction to the Concept of the Middle Class in Western Countries
3.1.2 The Origin of China’s Use of the Concept of the Middle Class and the Perspective of This Book
3.2 The Origin and Development of the Middle Class in Western Countries
3.2.1 The Origin of the Middle Class in Western Countries in Modern Times
3.2.2 The Development of the Middle Class in Western Countries
3.3 The Origin and Development of the Middle Class in Modern China
3.3.1 The Embryo of the Middle Class in the 19th Century
3.3.2 The Development of the Modern Middle Class in China
4 Who is the Modern Middle Class in China?
4.1 The Emergence and Development of the Modern Chinese Middle Class
4.1.1 The Embryo of the Middle Class at the Beginning of the Reform and Opening up
4.1.2 The Development of the Middle Class Promoted by the Deepening of the Reform and Opening up
4.1.2.1 The Development of the Embryonic Middle Class in the 1990s
4.1.2.2 The New Development of the Middle Class in the 21st Century
4.2 The Definition of the Middle Class in Contemporary China
4.2.1 The Definition of the Middle Class in Contemporary China
4.2.2 National Reality Analysis for Standards
4.2.3 Who Are the Contemporary Middle Class?
4.3 How Many Middle-Class Members Are There in China?
4.3.1 Our Calculation
4.3.2 Comparison and Revision with Other Calculations
5 Analysis of the Status Quo and the Problems of the Middle Class in Contemporary China
5.1 The Status Quo of the Middle Class in Contemporary China
5.1.1 The Current Composition and Distribution of China’s Middle Class
The Current Sector Distribution of China’s Middle Class
5.1.2 The Current Occupation Distribution of China’s Middle Class
The Current Urban–Rural and Regional Distribution of China’s Middle Class
The Current Educational Attainment of China’s Middle Class
5.1.3 The Social Behavioral Characteristics of China’s Middle Class
Hard-Working as Well as Being Eager for Leisure, Which Is a Luxury to Them
Valuing the Brand and Design in Daily Consumption
More Uses for Durable Appliances, Cutting-Edge Technology Products and Luxuries
Laying Emphasis on Socializing, Education, Self-Development and Self-Realization
5.2 Deficiencies and Problems Regarding the Current Chinese Middle Class
5.2.1 The Relatively Small Proportion of Middle Class, and the Olive-Shaped Distribution Pattern is yet Distant
5.2.2 The Middle Class’s Relatively Low Level of Income and Property
5.2.3 The Imbalance and Instability in the Structure of the Middle Class
5.2.4 The Uneven Civilization Level Among the Middle Class
5.2.5 Relatively Unified Norms in Morality and Behaviors Are Far from Achieved or Predominant in the Society
5.3 Factors Binding the Development of the Middle Class in Contemporary China
5.3.1 The Extensive Economic Development Constraints the Enlargement of the Middle Class
5.3.2 The Urban–rural Dual Structure Hampers the Balanced Expansion of the Middle Class
5.3.3 The Unreasonable Industrial Structure Has Constrained the Growth of the Middle Class
5.3.4 The Backwardness of the Income Distribution System Reform Impedes the Rise of the Middle Class
5.3.5 The Drawbacks in Education, Healthcare, Public Service and Other Social Systems Hinder the Development of the Middle Class
5.3.6 The Insufficiency of China’s Culture Construction
6 The Rise of the Middle Class in Contemporary China Looks Promising
6.1 The New Stage of the “Four-Pronged” Strategy Will Promote Great Changes in China
6.2 China’s Economic Transformation Will Provide a Solid Economic Foundation for the Development and Expansion of the Middle Class
6.2.1 China’s Economic Transformation Will Be Conducive to Making the Pie of Social Wealth Bigger and Better
6.2.2 China’s Economic Transformation Will Be Conductive to Expanding the Source of the Middle Class
6.3 China’s Social Transformation Will Provide Better Social Conditions for the Expansion of the Middle Class
6.3.1 Ruling the Country by Law Will Benefit the Development of the Middle Class
6.3.2 Educational Reforms Will Be Conducive to the Improvement of the Quality of the Middle Class
6.3.3 The Construction of Social Honesty and Credit Will Be Conducive to the Behavioral Norms of the Middle Class
6.4 The Chinese Government Formulates and Continues to Improve Policies for Promoting the Development and Expansion of the Middle Class
6.4.1 The Government Has Formulated a Series of Policies that Are Conducive to the Development and Expansion of the Middle Class
6.4.2 The Government Will Formulate More Situation-Based Policies for “Xingzhong” (The Rise of the Middle Class)
6.5 The Valuable Experience of Foreign Countries Can Be Adopted for Reference
6.5.1 Learning Valuable Foreign Experience Is the Only Way to Derive Advantages in the Late Strike
6.5.2 Systematically Summarizing and Learning from the Valuable Experience of Foreign Countries is Beneficial to the Rise of the Middle Class
7 Valuable Experience Overseas
7.1 Development Pattern of the Middle Class in Developed Countries and Regions
7.1.1 The “Spontaneous Growth Pattern of the Middle Class” in Britain, France and America
7.1.2 “Spontaneous Growth with the Policy Promotion Pattern of the Middle Class” in the Nordic Welfare States
7.1.3 The Rapid Rise of the Middle Class and Intentional Impetus Given by the Government Pattern in Some East Asian Countries and Regions
7.1.4 “Middle-Class Growth Frustrated by Policy Failures” in India and Latin America
India: The Insufficient Development of the Middle Class Resulting from the Malformed Industrial Structure and the Serious Social Differentiation
Brazil: The Policy Failure Leads to Twists in the Growth of the Middle Class
Costa Rica: Teaching Material by Both Positive and Negative Examples
7.2 Useful Experiences and References
7.2.1 Based on Sustained and Steady Economic Growth, the Reform and Improvement of Economic and Social Systems Are Necessary and Sufficient Conditions
7.2.2 The Development of the Middle Class Must Be Integrated with the Process of Industrialization and Urbanization
7.2.3 The Expansion of the Middle Class and Social Transformation Complement Each Other
7.2.4 The Development of the Middle Class Needs a Reasonable Income Distribution System and the Support of the Social Security System
7.2.5 The Development of the Middle Class Needs the Support of Basic Public Services Such as Education
8 Thoughts and Objectives Regarding the Comprehensive Rise of the Middle Class
8.1 Comprehensive “Xingzhong” is a Huge, Complex Systematic Project
8.1.1 The Connotation of Comprehensive “Xingzhong”
8.1.2 The Level and Perspective of Comprehensive “Xingzhong”
8.1.3 Analysis and Basic Orientation of the New Changes in the National Conditions of Comprehensive “Xingzhong”
8.2 The Basic Ideas and Principles of Comprehensive “Xingzhong”
8.2.1 Basic Ideas
8.2.2 Basic Principles
8.3 The Goal of Comprehensive “Xingzhong”
8.3.1 Forecast and Analysis of the 2020 Target
8.3.2 Forecast and Analysis Regarding the 2030 Target
9 Basic Measures for the Overall Rise of the Middle Class
9.1 Paying great attention to the Comprehensive “Xingzhong” (Rise of the Middle Class in China)
9.1.1 Understanding Fully the Significance of the Comprehensive “Xingzhong”
9.1.2 Connecting the Comprehensive “Xingzhong” with the Leaping Over of the “High-Income Wall” and “Middle-Income Trap”
9.2 Making the “Pie” Bigger and Better, and Consolidating the Material Foundation of the Comprehensive “Xingzhong”
9.2.1 Maintaining Healthy and Sustainale Economic Growth
9.2.2 Creating New Demands in Various Aspects
9.2.3 Changing the Mode of Economic Development and Improving the Quality of the Economy
9.3 Adjusting the Economic and Social Structure, and Finding More Ways to Increase the Members of the Comprehensive “Xingzhong”
9.3.1 Adjusting the Industrial Structure and Employment Structure to Increase the Number of the Middle Class
9.3.2 Promoting Urbanization to Transform More Peasants into Citizens
9.3.3 Adjusting the Distribution Structure of Income to Increase the Size of the Middle Class
9.3.4 Adjusting Other Social Structures and Improving the Conditions for Developing the Middle Class
9.4 Deepening the Reform of the Economic and Social System and Removing the Obstaces to the Comprehensive “Xingzhong”
9.4.1 Deepening the Reform of the Economic System and Eliminating the Obstacles to the Development of Equal Competition Among the Market Participants
9.4.2 Deepening the Reform of the Social Management System and Eliminating the Obstacles Which Hinder the Development and Expansion of the Middle Class
9.5 Strengthening Education and Spiritual Civilization, and Promoting the Overall Quality of the Middle Class
9.5.1 Sorting out and Clarifying the Way to Improve the Quality of the Middle Class
9.5.2 Carrying out Classified Work to Improve the Overall Quality of the Middle Class
10 Focus of the Comprehensive “Xingzhong” (The Rise of the Middle Class) in Contemporary China
10.1 Regarding the “All-Round Rise of the Middle Class” as a Major Social Construction Task
10.1.1 Incorporating the Development and Expansion of the Middle Class into the National Economic and Social Development Plan
10.1.2 Incorporating the Expansion of the Middle Class into the Daily Agenda of Governments at All Levels
10.2 Deepening the Reform of the Income Distribution System and Expanding the Middle-Income Groups
10.2.1 Deepening the Reform of the Salary System and Expanding the Middle-Income Groups
10.2.2 Establishing and Improving the System to Increase Residents’ Property Income
10.2.3 Improving and Consummating the Fiscal Levy System to Increase the Residents’ Income from Transfer
10.2.4 Accelerating the Consolidation of the Basic Management System of Income Distribution to Promote the Comprehensive “Xingzhong” (Rise of the Middle Class)
10.2.5 Reinforcing the Adjustment of Distribution Relations to Accelerate the Narrowing of the Unreasonable Gaps
10.3 Further Improving the System of Social Security, Employment and Startup Businesses
10.3.1 Accelerating the Improvement of the Social Security System to Resolve the Middle Class's Worries About Their Subsistence
10.3.2 Improving the Support System for Employment and Start-Ups to Facilitate More Workers Entering the Middle Class
10.4 Striving to Make Remarkable Progress in the Regulation of the Urban and Rural, Industrial and Occupational Structure
10.4.1 Implementing the Household Registration System Reform Policy and Promote the Transformation of Rural Workers into Citizens
10.4.2 Complying with Industrial Structure Adjustment and Create Jobs for Grey- and White-Collar Workers
10.4.3 Strengthening Vocational and On-the-Job Training to Improve the Quality of Labor
10.5 The Comprehensive “Xingzhong” (Rise of the Middle Class) Should Giving Full Play to the Main Role of Employers and Workers
10.5.1 Employers: How to Cultivate the Middle Class Members
10.5.2 Workers: How to Grow to Be a Member of the Middle Class
11 Postscript
Bibliography