Li Zhoru, PhD student at the Department of Sociology, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia) and Deputy Secretary General of the World Association for Political Economy (WAPE) and Visiting Scholar at the Institute for State Security Studies, Nankai University (China), e-mail: liz@my.msu.ru
Since 2012, China’s rapid economic expansion has engendered a pronounced transformation in the nation’s social structure. By drawing on a comprehensive assortment of statistical data and scholarly literature, this article employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods to elucidate, in a systematic manner, both the defining features of social-structural evolution and the underlying mechanisms that propel it, with particular reference to income distribution, urban–rural configurations, patterns of employment, and the allocation of class-based resources. Although anti-poverty initiatives and regionally coordinated development policies have demonstrated efficacy in enhancing the living conditions of economically disadvantaged groups, the ongoing processes of capital accumulation within the socialist market framework have concurrently stimulated wealth concentration and amplified social stratification. In order to offer a robust theoretical underpinning for understanding these dynamics, the article begins by aggregating and critically examining macroeconomic and social statistical indicators, followed by the construction of an integrated model that clarifies how capital factors shape social restructuring while also revealing pronounced disparities across different regions and demographic groups. On the basis of these empirical findings, specific policy recommendations are proposed to mitigate emerging inequalities and to facilitate the establishment of a more equitable and sustainable form of social development. This study thereby contributes to a deeper comprehension of the inseparable ties between economic advancement and social transformation, and furnishes a scientific foundation for promoting balanced growth and enduring social progress.
Keywords: structural social change; income distribution; capital accumulation; urban–rural development; policy recommendations
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