Title
The quest for sustainable livelihoods : social development challenges and social policy responses in Guangzhou, China
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Social Policy and Society
Publication Date
4-1-2014
Volume
13
Issue
2
First Page
239
Last Page
250
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Keywords
marketisation of social welfare, ustainable livelihoods, unmet social welfare needs, welfare expectations, Guangzhou
Abstract
China's welfare system has been a typical 'residual welfare regime', but the economic reform and market-oriented transformations in recent decades have weakened the original well-balanced 'residual' and 'needs' pattern. Marketisation of social welfare has intensified social inequality as those who are less competitive in the market-oriented economy have encountered tremendous financial burdens in meeting their welfare needs. In order to rectify the social problems and tensions generated from the process of marketisation of social welfare, the Chinese government has adopted different policy measures to address the pressing welfare demands from the citizens. This article examines how a local government in Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong province, has responded to the call of the central government in promoting social harmony in the context of growing welfare regionalism emerging in mainland China. More specifically, with reference to a case study of Guangzhou, this article discusses how Guangzhou residents assess their social welfare needs and expectations, and how they evaluate the municipal government's major welfare strategies. It also reflects upon the role of the state in welfare provision and social protection, especially when many social welfare and social services have been marketised in the last few decades in China.
DOI
10.1017/S1474746413000638
Print ISSN
14747464
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Mok, K. H., & Lau, M. (2014). The quest for sustainable livelihoods: Social development challenges and social policy responses in Guangzhou, China. Social Policy and Society, 13(2), 239-250. doi: 10.1017/S1474746413000638
