Abstract
This paper examines the ethnic and household registration system (<em>hukou</em>) effects on intergenerational social mobility for men in China. Using national representative surveys covering almost two decades (1996–2014), we assess both absolute and relative rates of mobility by ethnicity and <em>hukou</em> origin. With regard to absolute mobility, we find that minority men had significantly lower rates of total and upward mobility than Han men, and those from rural <em>hukou</em> origins faced more unfavourable chances. With regard to relative mobility, we find men of rural ethnic origins significantly less likely to inherit their parental positions. Even with parental and own educational qualifications and party memberships controlled for, we still find ethnic minority men of rural <em>hukou</em> origins behind others in access to professional-managerial positions. Overall, our findings suggest that the preferential policies have largely removed the ethnic differences in the urban sector but ethnic minority men from rural <em>hukou</em> origins are faced with double disadvantages: in addition to the inequality of opportunity rooted in the institutional divide which they share with the majority group from similar backgrounds, they face much greater inequalities in conditions, namely, in having poorer socio-economic and cultural resources.
Highlights
The aim of this paper, drawing on national representative sample surveys in China, is to examine the social inequality in intergenerational class mobility in terms of ethnic and structural relations
Quite a few studies have been conducted examining the hukou effects on mobility but to the best of our knowledge, no research has been conducted on intergenerational social mobility by ethnicity in China
The details are shown in the lower part of the table called ‘summary statistics’ where, in addition to ethnic rates, we present the rates by hukou and, by ethno-hukou combinations
Summary
The aim of this paper, drawing on national representative sample surveys in China, is to examine the social inequality in intergenerational class mobility in terms of ethnic and structural relations. Quite a few studies have been conducted examining the hukou effects on mobility but to the best of our knowledge, no research has been conducted on intergenerational social mobility by ethnicity in China To this end, this paper seeks to understand the ethno-hukou intersection in contemporary China by providing evidence on both the absolute and the relative rates of social class mobility. Social mobility research and ethnic studies are, as Li and Heath (2016) note, both concerned with the same underlying issue, that of social equality and social justice Social inequality, be it manifested in terms of family background, ethnicity/race, gender, age, disability, sexuality or other ascribed characteristics, is economically inefficient, morally indefensible and politically illegitimate. We summarize our findings with some discussion
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