Welfare state changes in China since 1949

Abstract

This chapter gives an overview of the changes in the welfare policies of China since 1949 when the Communist Party came to power. It shows that the welfare policies in China are centred on two themes: facilitating economic growth and social stability. Social stability to some extent is partially achieved by sustained growth, but not limited to growth. The development of the welfare state plays two roles: picking up the vulnerability exposed by the changes in economic growth; and responding to the social pressure that threatens instability. Despite the fact that China has moved from a command economy pursuing Communist ideology to a market economy following "Socialism with Chinese Characters", the approaches the state has responded to in changing welfare needs have not really drifted away from economic growth and social stability. Politically, the Communist Party and the government, though reluctant to make radical changes in the political system, had gone through some transformations.