The undeserving poor in China: the institutional logic of the minimum living standard scheme and the hukou system

ABSTRACT

In tandem with hukou, the Chinese household registration system, the Minimum Standard of Living Scheme (MSLS) may create an institutional melting pot from which negative perceptions continue to inform Chinese attitudes towards the poor. The theoretical point of departure for this paper connects the concept of deservingness with policy institutions. Based on the ISSP 2009 survey, and an examination of country-level differences in the association between perceptions of the poor on the one hand and perceptions of the unemployed and attitudes towards redistribution on the other, it is argued that the theory finds empirical support. The results stress that hukou reform and more inclusive welfare provision are important for improving social cohesion in China.

KEYWORDS:

• Deservingness
• China
• social assistance
• poverty
• perceptions
• attitudes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Laid-off or xiagang was a category separate from unemployment, since one formally retained a connection to the former workplace. In essence, they were unemployed, and many did not even receive the allowance (now phased out) they were formally entitled to (Chan 2010).

2. Note that these figures are in relation to per capita disposable income. If they had been calculated according to average disposable wages (i.e. net replacement rate), the figures would have been much lower.

3. Age in years in seven categories: 18–24; 25–34; 35–44; 45–54; 55–64; 65–-74 and above 75 years.

4. Employed/not in employment, re-coded from: Employed full-time; Employed part-time; Helping family member, Unemployed; Student, school, vocational training; Retired; Housewife, home duties; Disabled.

5. Income divided by median income in each country, re-coded from country-specific variables on total annual income in local currencies.

6. Five categories: No formal education; Lowest formal qualification; Above lowest formal qualification; Higher secondary; Above higher secondary level, other; University degree.