Urban Poverty, Housing and Social Change in China

Urban reform in China has dramatically changed the socialist urban landscapesand the economy is one of the most dynamic systems. However economic reformhas had ... » 

Urban reform in China has dramatically changed the socialist urban landscapesand the economy is one of the most dynamic systems. However economic reformhas had a very uneven effect on urban population. While the living standard ofa significant proportion of urban residents has improved a sizeable group ofhouseholds has been left behind and became a new class the urban poor.There is a close association between poverty and housing in transitionalsocieties. Along with job security housing was the most important element ofthe socialist welfare system. Housing privatisation therefore has farreachingsocial and economic implications. While urban economic reform and theassociated unemployment problems have attracted some attention the linkagebetween urban poverty and housing has been largely overlooked until now.The major concern of this book is about societies in transition and theassociated problem of urban poverty. Under this broad theme the book aims toanalyse the social and economic changes brought forward in Chinese cities bythe countrys ongoing reform programme. It focuses particularly on theproblems of urban poverty and lowincome urban communities found in largeChinese cities «