The Rising Middle Classes in China (Social Change in China)

China's high-speed economic growth has created a burgeoning middle class. Despite its relatively low proportion in terms of the total population, its absolute number is considerable given China's huge population. According to conservative estimates, the Chinese middle class currently totals over 100 million people. Some Chinese scholars predict that the middle class will account for 40% of China's population in the next decade, amounting to approximately 400 million. This is a huge number of people, who will exert considerable influence on China's social, economic, cultural, and political sectors. Now available in paperback, this book gathers together the latest research results from renowned Chinese scholars who have comprehensively examined the formation of China's middle class. The coverage includes key background issues - the socioeconomic status, the sociopolitical functions, the definition, the values, the social attitudes, the income, and the consumption characteristics - of China's rapidly expanding middle class. Based on extensive survey data and case analysis, this critical book outlines the formation process and current status of China's middle class, and it predicts the future development and influence on the sociopolitical transformation of China in the 21st century. As well as appealing to social scientists, the book will serve as an essential resource for business people around the world who want to better identify and understand a phenomenon which will impact the prosperity and opportunities of peoples and businesses around the world for generations to come. (Series: Social Change in China) [Subject: Sociology, Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, Economics, Business]