Workers' Moral Economy and Collective Action by Laid-off Workers in China

Abstract

At the turn of the century and before, the difficult conditions for laid-off workers in China generated collective action. This study examines the laid-off workers' collective actions in China in terms of the concept of moral economy. Using data collected from fieldwork in Northeast China and the considerations and strategies of the laid-off workers in China, the following questions were asked: What was the prime mover for the laid-off workers' collective actions? Why were some laid-off workers prone to take action while others remained inactive? Hypotheses based on the moral economy theory are developed to interpret the data collected. The tentative conclusion is that when the workers' subsistence rights had been infringed and their livelihood problems became serious, the laid-off workers took action. The shock of being laid off had different impacts on different individuals. Laid-off workers who were able to find or were provided with “subsistence alternatives” were less inclined to take collective action.

Keywords:

• Moral economy
• laid-off workers' subsistence
• collective action

Notes

1 The “three guarantee lines” policy programme consists of a series of measures as a package, including the initiation of the “re-employment project”, delivery of unemployment insurance, and the offer of minimum living standard allowances.

2 Due to the sensitive nature of this research project and the potential risks for the information providers, this article will not give the identities of the city, plant and informants interviewed and surveyed.

3 The repertoire of contention refers to the following, as defined by Charles Tilly: “the established ways in which pairs of actors make and receive claims bearing on each other's interests” (Tilly, 1992, p. 26).

4 The odds can be calculated according to the following formula: odds = e ^x . e = 2.71828183 and x is the coefficient value in logistic regression; in this statistical analysis, x = –0.045.

5 Interview in City F, 26 August 2007.

6 The odds can be calculated according to the following formulation: odds = e ^x . e = 2.71828183 and x is the coefficient value in the logistic regression; in this statistical exercise, x = 0.567.

7 The odds can be calculated according to the following formulation: odds = e ^x . e = 2.71828183 and x is the coefficient value in the logistic regression; in this statistical exercise, x = –0.465.

8 From interviews with laid-off workers in City F in Northeast China, 2007.

9 Interviews with laid-off workers in City F in Northeast China, 2007.

10 Interviews with laid-off workers in City F in Northeast China, 2007.

11 Interviews with laid-off workers in City F in Northeast China, 2007.