Constrained or Beyond Path dependency: The challenge of pension system reform in China through the lens of Path Dependency

Cerneavschii, Vlada

4. term

European Studies, Master

2023

2023-05-15

35

This thesis examines the main forces that have shaped China’s welfare system as we know it today. Instead of collecting new data, it reviews and synthesizes findings from existing research. The analysis highlights three points. First, China’s welfare system is relatively young. Second, government attention and political resources have long been directed more toward urban areas than rural ones. Third, the system is highly fragmented—different programs and rules apply across regions and groups—making it difficult to enact comprehensive, nationwide reforms. This fragmentation is not accidental; it reflects earlier choices made by the central government.

Denne afhandling undersøger de vigtigste kræfter, der har formet Kinas velfærdssystem, som vi kender det i dag. I stedet for at indsamle nye data gennemgår og sammenfatter den resultater fra eksisterende forskning. Analysen fremhæver tre pointer. For det første er Kinas velfærdssystem relativt ungt. For det andet har regeringens opmærksomhed og politiske ressourcer længe været koncentreret mere om byområder end om landområder. For det tredje er systemet stærkt fragmenteret—forskellige ordninger og regler gælder for forskellige regioner og befolkningsgrupper—hvilket gør det svært at gennemføre omfattende reformer på landsplan. Denne fragmentering er ikke tilfældig; den afspejler tidligere beslutninger truffet af centralregeringen.

[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]

Download PDF
View record in AAU Student Projects