Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:06:44.381Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Acquired but Unvested Welfare Rights: Migration and Entitlement Barriers in Reform-Era China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2018

Li Zhang  and
Meng Li
Li Zhang*
Affiliation:
School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University.
Meng Li
Affiliation:
School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University.
*
Email: [email protected] (corresponding author).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Scholars studying Chinese development have long acknowledged the significance of the hukou system in impeding internal migration and defining welfare entitlements. However, another crucial barrier is often overlooked: the incomplete transferability of acquired welfare rights. By examining the case of the Urban Employee Basic Pension System, this paper aims to understand how the limited transferability of acquired rights acts as an obstacle to labour migration and entitlement accomplishment. It also seeks to explore the factors that are accountable for the low level of welfare rights transferability. Our findings suggest that migration and entitlement barriers today may not be so much a question of a particular form of hukou exclusion but more of a problem of insufficient rights portability. An in-depth understanding of the structural constraints of China's reform-era migration and rights attainment needs to take into account the transferability of welfare entitlements for migrant workers, and go beyond a narrow conceptualization of the hukou system per se.

摘要

已有研究普遍认同，户籍制度阻碍人口迁移、导致公民权益不平等。但对权益流动性产生的影响，尚缺乏深入的实证讨论。本文以覆盖农民工的城镇职工基本养老保险制度为例，探讨权益流动的水平以及造成流动水平偏低的因素。研究结果表明，改革时期中国人口迁移和权益实现的障碍，更直接地来自于权益流动性的缺失而非户籍制度的作用。作者认为，在户籍制度不断变革的大背景下，对人口迁移和权益实现的更深入的理解，不能仅囿于对户籍制度本身的认知，对权益流动性的分析更为重要。

Keywords

urban employee basic pension systemtransferabilitybasic pensionunvested welfare rightshukou systemChina城镇职工基本养老保险制度流动性基本养老金受限福利权户籍制度
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 235 , September 2018 , pp. 669 - 692
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © SOAS University of London 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

CCCCP (Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party) and State Council. 2014. “Guojia xinxing chengzhenhua guihua (2014–2020)” (New national urbanization plan, 2014–2020), 16 March, http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2014-03/16/content_2640075.htm.Google Scholar
Chan, Kam Wing. 2009. “The Chinese hukou system at 50.” Eurasian Geography and Economics 50(2), 197–221.Google Scholar
Chan, Kam Wing, and Zhang, Li. 1999. “The hukou system and rural–urban migration in China: processes and changes.” The China Quarterly 160, 818–855.Google Scholar
d'Addio, Anna Cristina, and Cavalleri, Maria Chiara. 2015. “Labour mobility and the portability of social rights in the EU.” CESifo Economic Studies 61(2), 346–376.Google Scholar
Dorfman, Mark C., Holzman, Robert and Team, World Bank. 2013. China's Pension System – A Vision. Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Social Security Fund Management. 2015. “2014 nian Guangdong sheng shehui baoxian xinxi pilu tonggao” (Proclamation on social security information in Guangdong province in 2014), 19 June, http://www.gdsi.gov.cn/xxpl/20150619/11659.html.Google Scholar
Holzmann, Robert, and Koettl, Johannes. 2015. “Portability of pension, health, and other social benefits: facts, concepts, and issues.” CESifo Economic Studies 61(2), 377–415.Google Scholar
Holzmann, Robert, and Werding, Martin. 2015. “Portability of social benefits: research on a critical topic in globalization.” CESifo Economic Studies 61(2), 335–345.Google Scholar
Huang, Xian. 2015. “Four worlds of welfare: understanding subnational variation in Chinese social health insurance.” The China Quarterly 222, 449–474.Google Scholar
Impavido, Gregorio, Hu, Yu-Wei and Li, Xiaohong. 2009. “Governance and fund management in the Chinese pension system.” IMF Working Paper (WP/09/246).Google Scholar
Jousten, Alain. 2015. “The retirement of the migrant labor force: pension portability and beyond.” CESifo Economic Studies 61(2), 416–437.Google Scholar
Lu, Bei, and Piggott, John. 2015. “Meeting the migrant pension challenge in China.” CESifo Economic Studies 61(2), 438–464.Google Scholar
Mayda, Anna Maria. 2010. “International migration: a panel data analysis of the determinants of bilateral flows.” Journal of Population Economics 23(4), 1249–74.Google Scholar
MHRSS (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security). 2016. “2015 nian du renli ziyuan he shehui baozhang shiye fazhan tongji gongbao” (The 2015 statistical communiqué on human resources and social security), 1 June, http://www.mohrss.gov.cn/SYrlzyhshbzb/dongtaixinwen/buneiyaowen/201605/t20160530_240967.html.Google Scholar
MHRSS and MOF (Ministry of Finance). 2009. “Chengzhen qiye zhigong jiben yanglao baoxian guanxi zhuanyi jiexu zanxing banfa” (Interim provisions on the transferability of the UEBPS), 28 December, http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2009-12/29/content_1499072.htm.Google Scholar
MLSS (Ministry of Labour and Social Security) and MOF. 2007. “Guanyu tuijin qiye zhigong jiben yanglao baoxian shengji tongchou youguan wenti de tongzhi” (Circular on promoting the unification of the basic old-age insurance for enterprise employees at the provincial level), 18 January, http://www.mohrss.gov.cn/gkml/zcfg/gfxwj/201407/t20140717_136193.html.Google Scholar
National Health and Family Planning Commission of China. 2014. 2014 Zhongguo liudong renkou fazhan baogao (2014 Report on China's Migrant Population Development). Beijing: China Population Publishing House.Google Scholar
NBS (National Bureau of Statistics). 2014. “2013 nian quanguo nongmingong jiance diaocha baogao” (An investigation report on peasant workers in China, 2013), 12 May, http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/zxfb/201405/t20140512_551585.html.Google Scholar
NBS. 2017. “Zhonghua renmin gongheguo 2016 nian guomin jingji he shehui fazhan tongji gongbao” (The 2016 statistical communiqué of national economic and social development of the PRC), 28 February, http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/zxfb/201702/t20170228_1467424.html.Google Scholar
Pedersen, Peder J., Pytlikova, Mariola and Smith, Nina. 2008. “Selection and network effects – migration flows into OECD countries, 1990–2000.” European Economic Review 52(7), 1160–86.Google Scholar
Pozen, Robert C. 2013. “Tackling the Chinese pension system.” Paulson Policy Memorandum, The Paulson Institute, http://www.paulsoninstitute.org/think-tank/2013/07/30/tackling-the-chinese-pension-system/. Accessed 30 April 2018.Google Scholar
Salditt, Felix, Whiteford, Peter and Adema, Willem. 2008. “Pension reform in China.” International Social Security Review 61(3), 47–71.Google Scholar
Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Finance, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security and Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Health. 2007. “Shanghai shi shehui baoxian jijin yusuan guanli shixing banfa” (Provisional measures for managing the budget for the social security fund in Shanghai municipality), 14 January. Unpublished internal document.Google Scholar
Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Finance, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security and Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Medical Insurance. 2006. “Shanghai shi shehui bao-xian jijin caiwu guanli banfa” (Measures for managing the financial affairs of the social security fund in Shanghai municipality), 30 October, http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw2/nw2314/nw2319/nw10800/nw11408/nw15791/u26aw8850.html. Accessed 2 May 2018.Google Scholar
Shanghai Municipal Centre of Social Security Management, Shanghai Municipal Centre of Health Management and Shanghai Municipal Centre of Employment Promotion. 2015. “2014 nian mo benshi shehui baoxian jiben qingkuang” (General development of social security in Shanghai municipality in 2014), 7 September, http://www.12333sh.gov.cn/201712333/xxgk/zdly/01/201711/t20171103_1270729.shtml. Accessed 2 May 2018.Google Scholar
Shanghai Municipal Government. 2007. “Guanyu tiaozheng benshi chengzhen qiye jiben yanglaojin jifa banfa de tongzhi” (Circular on adjusting the computation and payment methods of basic pension for urban enterprise workers in Shanghai municipality), 20 August, http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw2/nw2314/nw2319/nw11494/nw12331/nw12343/nw16860/u26aw11896.html. Accessed 2 May 2018.Google Scholar
Sieveking, Klaus. 2000. “The significance of the transborder utilization of health care benefits for migrants.” European Journal of Migration and Law 2(2), 143–155.Google Scholar
Solinger, Dorothy J. 1999. “Citizenship issues in China's internal migration: comparison with Germany and Japan.” Political Science Quarterly 114(3), 455–478.Google Scholar
State Council. 1991. “Guanyu qiye zhigong yanglao baoxian zhidu gaige de jueding” (The decision on reforming enterprise workers’ old age pension), 26 June, http://www.hecd.lss.gov.cn/ecdomain/fileHandle.do?action=read&objectID=20100519211721375&infoChecked=0. Accessed 2 May 2018.Google Scholar
State Council. 1997. “Guanyu jianli tongyi de qiye zhigong jiben yanglao baoxian zhidu de jueding” (A decision on establishing a unified basic pension system for enterprise workers), 16 July, http://pkulaw.cn/(S(pvgj1 ×45wuwnwm5555df4e55))/fulltext_form.aspx?Db=alftwotitle&Gid=433eff734b7f7672bdfb. Accessed 2 May 2018.Google Scholar
State Council. 2005. “Guanyu wanshan qiye zhigong jiben yanglao baoxian zhidu de jueding” (Circular on improving enterprise employee basic pension system), 3 December, http://www.mof.gov.cn/zhuantihuigu/knqzshap/zcwj/200805/t20080519_23117.html. Accessed 2 May 2018.Google Scholar
State Council. 2014. “Guanyu jinyibu tuijin huji zhidu gaige de yijian” (The opinions on further promotion of the reform of hukou registration system), 24 July. http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2014-07/30/content_8944.htm. Accessed 2 May 2018.Google Scholar
Sun, Qixiang, and Maxwell, John W.. 2002. “Deficits, empty individual accounts, and transition costs: restructuring challenges facing China's pension system.” Journal of Insurance Issues 25(2), 103–126.Google Scholar
Turner, John A. 1993. Pension Policy for a Mobile Labor Force. Kalamazoo, MI: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.Google Scholar
West, Loraine A. 1999. “Pension reform in China: preparing for the future.” The Journal of Development Studies 35(3), 153–183.Google Scholar
World Bank and the Development Research Centre of the State Council, PRC. 2014. Urban China: Toward Efficient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Urbanization. Washington, DC: World Bank Group.Google Scholar
Xu, Qingwen, Guan, Xinping and Yao, Fangfang. 2011. “Welfare program participation among rural-to-urban migrant workers in China.” International Journal of Social Welfare 20(1), 10–21.Google Scholar
Zhang, Li, and Li, Meng. 2016. “Local fiscal capacity and liberalization of urban hukou.” Journal of Contemporary China 25(102), 893–907.Google Scholar
Zhang, Li, and Tao, Li. 2012. “Barriers to the acquisition of urban hukou in Chinese cities.” Environment and Planning A 44(12), 2883–2990.Google Scholar
Zhao, Yaohui, and Xu, Jianguo. 2002. “China urban pension system: reforms and problems.” Cato Journal 21(3), 395–414.Google Scholar
Zheng, Bingwen. 2007. “The origin of China's partially funded social security system and its future direction.” The Chinese Economy 40(4), 6–28.Google Scholar