Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 4, 2024

Pursuing Welfare via Development: The Concept and Practice Path of Social Policies with Chinese Characteristics

(Abstract)

Fang Lijie and Pan Tong

Social policies with Chinese characteristics constitute an important aspect of the theory underpinning the Chinese path to modernization. The key to studying this theory lies in transcending traditional social policy models so that China’s social policies can be systematically understood and evaluated. Drawing on post-2003 data and documents on social expenditure, an analysis of four policy types—social protection, social investment, active employment, and labor market regulation—provides a comprehensive and dynamic overview of China’s social policy evolution over the past two decades. The findings demonstrate that despite notable variations, social policy plans across different fields and periods, when examined within the context of the country’s macro-development strategy, exhibit a purposeful and logical consistency in serving overall social development over a given timeframe. Central to China’s social policy framework is the concept of welfare through development. “Development” serves as a consistent goal, as well as the fundamental methodology for understanding and transforming the world. In navigating the broader landscape effectively, our focus should be on addressing the main contradiction, while implementing a development strategy of progressive reform with a problem-solving mindset and formulating plans for social policies within the framework of the high-quality development strategy.