Though dissatisfied with certain features of Chinese social life, Chinese people are optimistic about China’s potential for reform, according to a report on China’s social development recently released in Beijing.

 

The report is based on a survey on China's "social attitude and development" conducted by the Social Development Strategy Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in May 2013. It includes various indexes compiled using statistical analysis of questionnaire responses and sub-reports on social prospects and confidence, social inclusiveness, pubic engagement, inclusiveness of urban public services, social management performance, urban residents' quality of life, and trust in government.

 

Within the report, China's national prospects are evaluated from three dimensions: public satisfaction, sense of deprivation, and trust in government. The report finds that in 2013, the social prospect index climbed slightly to 62.8, and the social confidence index rose by 2.4 points to 77.4. These scores suggest that Chinese people have higher expectations for the future than the present.

 

Question responses show that as a nation, China's aspirations have gone far beyond meeting basic needs like ensuring adequate food and clothing and now center on improving the quality of life. Chinese people are more engaged in national politics and concerned with achieving social equity on a national level. The report interprets these responses as indicating that China’s social development has reached a turning point and the driving force of development has transformed. Social development is no longer simply about meeting people’s increasing livelihood and income needs, but now has more to do with satisfying diverse demands at multiple levels.

 

The general social inclusiveness index of Chinese cities in 2013 was 66.0, also rising steadily from 2012's index of 65.6. However, the report notes that sub-indexes for "autonomy of exchange" and "protection of rights" were lower than the overall social inclusiveness index, indicating there is still need for substantial improvement of social equity and justice. Further reform and improvement of China’s judicial protection system could also help increase these sub-indexes. A regression analysis in this section shows that the major factors affecting the social inclusiveness index are "development opportunities" and the "status of social equity". These are the issues the public is most concerned with as Chinese society enters the present turning point, the report concludes.

 

The Chinese version appeared in the Chinese Social Sciences Today, No. 547, January 10, 2013
 

Translated by Bai Le
                                                                                Revised by Charles Horne