Consumption patterns of the middle class in contemporary China / Zhu Di, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zhu, Di, 1981- author.

Standardized Title:

Pin wei yu wu zhi yu wang. English

Language:

Chinese

English

Subjects (All):

Consumption (Economics)--China.

Consumption (Economics).

Middle class.

Economic conditions.

China.

Consumer behavior--China.

Consumer behavior.

Middle class--China--Economic conditions.

Middle class--Economic conditions.

Physical Description:

xviii, 288 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Singapore ; Hackensack, NJ : World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., [2018]

Summary:

This book, set against the background of accounts of globalisation, aims to figure out the consumer orientation of the middle class in contemporary china, in particular how the new elements in consumer orientation operate in the Chinese context. It focuses on the contemporary middle class Data used in the book are taken from national representative surveys conducted in the recent decade and also from 30 interviews with middle class people in Beijing. The book focuses on the consumption pattern from everyday consumption, taste and material culture. It highlights consumers' self-referential orientations: the pursuit of pleasure, tempered by considerations regarding comfort, is a significant form of aesthetic justification. Living within one's means i.e. keeping a balance between expenditure and income is the main moral justification. Consumers' orientations on a new set of elements, conceptualised in this research as "the orientation toward personal pleasure and comfort" This orientation is shaped by social conventions, traditional values and the metropolitan context. The findings challenge the stereotype of the Chinese "new rich" and the one-dimensional pictures of tendencies towards either conspicuous display or frugality. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Background and Aim of This Book 1

The Study of Consumer Culture in China 4

Summary of the Key Arguments of the Book 7

Chapter Outline 9

Chapter 2 Theoretical Approaches from the Sociology of Consumption 13

Introduction 13

Globalisation: The Global Cultures 17

Consumption and Everyday Life 21

The Sociology of Taste 24

Material Culture and the Meanings of Goods 28

Consumer Orientation as Interpretation of Consumption Practices 29

Consumer orientation in Chinese society 36

Conclusion 40

Chapter 3 The Formation of the Contemporary Middle Class 41

Introduction 41

Expansion of the Middle Class 43

History of the middle class 43

Growth of the private and the foreign economy 45

Development of the service sector 47

Renaissance of higher education 48

Characteristics of the Contemporary Middle Class 50

Conceptualising "middle class" 52

The middle class in contemporary China 55

Regional Disparities, Migration, and Housing Policy 60

Regional economic disparities 60

The history of geographical migration 62

Housing policy 64

Conclusion 65

Chapter 4 The Emergence of Consumer Culture 67

Introduction 67

Emergence of Consumer Culture 68

Consumption Patterns of the Middle Class 71

Consumption practices of the middle class 72

Family commitments and consumption 75

Understanding of middle-class taste 77

Consumption in the Metropolitan Cities 81

Sociological Understandings of the Consumption Patterns 84

The consumer orientation 85

The embedded social relations 89

Conclusion 91

Chapter 5 Research Methodology 93

Introduction 93

Source of the Quantitative Data 97

Sampling design and sample information 98

Methods of analysis 101

Evaluation of the quantitative data 103

Source of the Qualitative Data 104

Interview design and ethics 105

Pilot interview, sampling strategy, and fieldwork 108

Methods of analysis 113

Evaluation of the qualitative data 119

Conclusion 120

Chapter 6 Characteristics of the Middle Class and Their Consumption Patterns 121

Introduction 121

Measurements of Key Variables 122

Occupation and middle class 122

Metropolitan population 124

Income groups, age groups, and industry 129

Characteristics of the Middle Class in the Metropolitan Cities 131

Occupation of the middle class 131

Age of the middle class 132

Gender of the middle class 134

Income of the middle class 135

Industry of the middle class 137

Discussion and implications 139

Consumption Patterns of the Middle Class 140

Measurement of participation in consumption practices 140

Use of multiple correspondence analysis 141

Mapping consumption patterns of the urban population in 2003 143

Discussion and implications 148

Conclusion 149

Chapter 7 Homeownership of the Young Middle Class 151

Introduction 151

International Comparison on Homeownership of the Youth 154

Homeownership Situation of the "985 Project" Universities Graduates 159

The homeownership rate 159

Homeownership and social stratification 161

Factors Influencing the "985 Project" Universities Graduates' Homeownership 166

Conclusion 169

Chapter 8 Everyday Consumption of the Middle Class 173

Introduction 173

The Discourse of "Shopping" and "Consumption" 173

Daily Expenditure and Consumption 177

Eating in and eating out 178

Housing and cars 182

Clothing, durables, leisure, and other consumption 189

Family finance and strategies 193

Conclusion 196

Chapter 9 Consumption and Social Conventions 197

Introduction 197

Consumption to Fulfil Family Commitment 197

Investment in children 198

Obligations towards parents and other family members 200

Intergenerational Differences 207

Between the interviewees and their parents 208

Between the interviewees and their children 211

Giving Gifts 213

Consumption and Social Interactions 216

Interactions with colleagues 218

Interactions with family members 221

Conclusion 223

Chapter 10 Taste and Material Aspiration 225

Introduction 225

The Shaping of Taste 225

The distribution of taste 226

The judgement of taste 229

The justification of taste 232

Discussion and implications 241

Material Aspirations 242

Transition of material aspirations 244

Justifications of material aspirations 247

Discussion and implications 250

Conclusion 252

Chapter 11 Conclusion 255

Introduction 255

Consumption Patterns of the Middle Class 256

The Orientation to Personal Pleasure and Comfort in China 260

Limitations, Discussions, and Further Research Agenda 265.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9789813230323

9813230320

OCLC:

1002112974