Social Sciences in China Review

No.1, 2018

Changes in Chinese Social Class Structure and Consumption Upgrade since the 40 years of the Reform and Opening up (Abstract)

Zhang Yi

The biggest change since reform and opening up is the epoch-making transformation of social structure along with economic and social development, that is, it has shifted from a society dominated by farmers to a society in which farmers, the working class and the middle class co-exist. The upgrading process of consumption shows the optimization of social structure. For different groups, consumption upgrade is a complex, progressive and life-improving process characterized by heterogeneous pursuits of subjective needs for a better life. In order to release the consumption and demand dividend brought by this change, it is necessary to design incentive policies in response to the needs of different social groups and create a fair consumption environment.