Socialist Welfare in a Market Economy: Social Security Reforms in Guangzhou, China

This title was first published in 2001. Using the city of Guangzhou as a case study, this text looks at how China has adopted a market economy, whilst still maintaining state-owned enterprises and an all-embracing social security system which protects the majority of Chinese workers. This volume examines three questions: can socialist social welfare co-exist with the market economy?; can state-owned enterprises survive in a market economy?; and has China succeeded in creating a market economy without sacrificing its socialist ideals? The study demonstrates that compromises have been necessary to accomodate both socialist and market objectives. continuing to support workers with social security benefits has, for example, made enterprises less competitive, and disparities in benefits arise as workers are allowed to supplement the minimum guaranteed income through savings in individual accounts.