Occupation, Class, and Social Networks in Urban China

Abstract

China's class structure is changing dramatically in the wake ofpost-1978 marketoriented economic reforms. The creation ofa mixed "market-socialist" economy has eroded the institutional bases of a cadre-dominated social hierarchy and created conditions for a new pattern of social stratification. Although conditions remain dynamic, results of a 1998 urban survey that measured strength and diversity of social ties among 400 households in four of China's largest cities documented networks ofsocial exchange among 13 occupation-based classes that identify a class structure distinct from the cadre-dominated social hierarchy of the Mao era. In particular, analysis of visiting during the Lunar New Year celebration suggests an urban society simultaneously divided along two axes: one by economic success in the more privatized economy and one by distinctions in political authority at the workplace. Thus contrary to those who privilege market transactions as the primary engine for creating a new class hierarchy, we conclude that to understand processes of social stratification one needs theories and methods that work simultaneously with multiple dynamics of class differentiation rather than presuming linear hierarchy.

Gender Discrimination in Hiring: Evidence from 19,130 Resumes in China

“…Bian, Davis and Galaskiewicz (2005) Our previously mentioned results could be considered a restatement and extension of the argument proposed by Bian, Davis, and Galaskiewicz (2005). Foreign and private firms display gender preferences for female applicants for positions in the occupations of high-ranked accountants and high-ranked secretaries; state-owned firms show no gender preferences in these positions.…”

“…We could argue that this may have occurred because of the special characteristics of state-owned firms in China. After 2000, the Chinese government actually permitted officials previously in charge of the economy prior to the reform to become shareholders in partially privatized, state-owned firms (Bian, Davis, and Galaskiewicz, 2005 Women are more likely to exhibit "helping" behavior (Eagly and Crowley, 1986); vote based on social issues (Goertzel, 1983); score more highly on "integrity tests" (Ones and Viswesvaran, 1998); take stronger stances on ethical behavior (Glover et al, 1997;Reiss and Mitra, 1998); and behave more generously when faced with economic decisions (Eckel and Grossman, 1998).(p. 423) marketing positions of both high and low ranks.…”

The Current State of Research on Networks in China’s Business System

“…Despite these specific characteristics, China and its economic development offer chances to substantially enhance existing theories in modern Western social sciences. (Batjargal, 2005a(Batjargal, , 2005bBian, 1997;Bian, Breiger, Davis, & Galaskiewicz, 2005;Björkman & Kock, 1995;Boisot et al, 1996;Boisot & Child, 1999;Carney, 1998;Che, 2000;Chen, 2005;Chen et al, 2004;Chen & Chen, 1998;Davies et al, 1995;Farh et al, 1998;Gabrowski, 2002;Gao, 2003;Gómez Arias, 1998;Guthrie, 1998;Haley, 1997;Haley & Haley, 2006;Hutchings & Murray, 2002;Keister, 1998Keister, , , 2001Khanna, 2000;Khatri, Tsang, & Begley, 2006;Kiong & Kee, 1998;Krug, 2003Krug, , , 2004Krug & Belschak, 2001;Krug & Hendrischke, 2003;Li et al, 2003;Liu, 1998;Luo, 1997;Ma et al, 2005;Michailova & Worm, 2003;Millington, Eberhardt, & Wilkinson, 2005;Millington et al, 2006;Nee, 1992;Park et al, 2001;Parnell, 2005;Peng, 1997Peng, , , 2003…”

Everyday-Life Business Deviance Among Chinese SME Owners

“…The conditions forming social classes, such as the reliance on market transactions, the substantial privatization of ownership, and the constitutional protection of private 8 property, have been gradually introduced over the past decades (Bian, Breiger, Davis, and Galaskiewicz, 2005). Currently, the private sector in China already accounts for over 60% of the national economy (China-US focus, 2016).…”