Chinese Urban Life under Reform
The Changing Social Contract

'Tang and Parish carefully mine a mountain of survey evidence to evaluate a wide range of arguments and ideas about the social consequences of China's reforms, and more generally, the transition from a planned to a market economy. By placing China unwavering in comparative perspective, their readable narrative offers some surprising new perspectives on such matters as social inequality, bureaucratic privilege, and political participation - especially on the all-important question of how we should interpret the trends we observe. We will all refer to the findings and insights to this benchmark study for years to come.' Andrew G. Walder, Stanford University

'What has happened to China's urban political economy in the post-Mao era? Tang and Parish use ideas drawn from a wide range of social theories and the urban experiences of other countries to confront multiple sets of Chinese surveys dealing with urban life. The result is an impressive and persuasive summary statement of the balance of change and continuity in Chinese cities.' Martin Whyte, George Washington University

'A pioneering and encyclopedic study of China's urban social and political life during the economic reforms of the Demg era. The interesting findings on such topics as attitudes toward the reforms, political participation, and labor relations will inform all serious analyses in these areas. Makes effective use of hitherto underutilized survey data to test a variety of hypotheses.' Michel Oksenberg, Asia/Pacific Research Center, Stanford University

'… this is an enjoyable stimulating and rewarding book, whether used as a textbook or as a book that specialists in Chinese Studies will refer to. I would have no hesitation in recommending the book to undergraduates and fellow researchers alike.' Journal of International Development