Inequalities in Accessing Community Services in China

Under the leadership of late Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese planned economy began its transformation into a socialist market economy in the late 1970s. In reforming the economy, the government has had to confront the limitations and constraints posed by the previous Soviet-style system of social service provision. The Chinese authorities have started to work on two avenues of welfare reform: dismantling the workplace-based welfare service delivery system through erecting new social insurance and pension schemes, and strengthening the community-based service delivery systems through introducing market elements. There are a number of · studies dealing with the former avenue (e.g., White, 1998; Leung and Nann, 1996; Leung, 1995; Chan, 1992). This paper, however, focuses on the latter-the introduction of market elements into service delivery. The objective of the present study is to examine whether or not the transition to a more market-oriented community delivery system results in inequalities in service reception.