Abstract
Since the mid-1990s, China has undertaken an overhaul of its social security system, which was one of the essential elements in a market-oriented economic reform and social transition process. In the early 1990s, pension reform was primarily confined to urban workers, particularly to those employed in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), leaving a large number of workers in the informal sector and rural areas outside the social protection system. In 2006, central government announced for the first time a goal for social security development — to achieve full coverage in urban and rural areas by 2020. Following on from this, several public pension pilot programmes have been initiated in recent years, including a pension reform pilot for public service units (PSUs) in 2008, a new rural pension plan in 2009 and an urban residents’ pension plan in 2010. As a result, China has constructed a multi-plan framework for old-age protection which has the potential to include all types of groups constituting the labour force. At the end of 2010, it was estimated that about 360 million insured, representing 39 per cent of the labour force, were covered by one of three public pension programmes: (1) the pension scheme for urban workers (236 million, 25.7 per cent); (2) the new rural pension scheme (103 million, 11.1 per cent); and (3) the pension scheme for government workers and those working in PSUs (21 million, 2.3 per cent) (MOHRSS 2011; Ma 2011).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Barr, Nicholas and Peter Diamond. 2008. Reforming Pensions: Principles and Policy Choices. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Barr, Nicholas and Peter Diamond. 2010. Pension Reform in China: Issues, Options and Recommendations. http://www.pension-watch.netknowledge-centre/?guid=4cda79f0ae2dc&order=n (accessed 10 September 2011).
Barrientos, Armando. 2009. Social Pensions in Low-Income Countries. http://cis.ier.hit-u.ac.jpJapanese/society/workshop0802/barrientos-paper2.pdf (accessed 11 September 2011).
Bingwen, Zheng. 2008. “30 Years of Reform and Openness in China: Development and Challenges of Social Security System for Floating Population.” Chinese Journal of Population Science. Vol. 128, No. 5, pp. 2–17.
Bingwen, Zheng. 2009. “‘Hybrid’ Combination of Social Pooling with Individual Account: A Policy Design of China’s Public Pension Based on NDC of Chinese Version.”
Paper presented at Non-Financial Defined Contribution (NDC) Systems: Progress and New Frontiers in a Changing Pension World. Joint Swedish Social Insurance Agency — World Bank Conference, Stockholm, 2–4 December.
Gangyi, Kali. 2007. Transitional NDC Model: New Thinking on China’s Public Pension Reform. http://finance.sina.com.cneconomist/jingjiguancha/20070919/1449 3994112.shtml (accessed 18 September 2011).
Gongcheng, Zheng. 2011. The Strategy of Social Security Reform in China. People’s Publishing House, Beijing.
Ping, Guo and Chen Gang. 2006. The Data Analysis of China Urban and Rural Elderly Survey. China Social Press, Beijing.
Holzmann, Robert and Richard Hinz. 2005. Old Age Income Support in the 21st Century: An International Perspective on Pension Systems and Reform. World Bank, Washington, DC.
ILO (International Labour Organization). 2011. Social Security for Social Justice and a Fair Globalization. ILO, Geneva. http://www.ilo.orgwcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_152819.pdf (accessed 6 July 2013).
Kakwani, Nanak and Kalanidhi Subbarao. 2005. Aging and Poverty in Africa and the Role of Social Pensions. Social Protection Discussion Paper Series No. 0521. World Bank, Washington, DC.
Jiantang, Ma. 2011. China has a labour force of 920 million, and has difficulties to deal with aging society. http://www.chinapressusa.com2011-05/01/content_827833.htm (accessed 15 October 2011).
Mark, Leonard. 2008. What Does China Think? Fourth Estate, London.
Mi, Hong and Lili Wang. 2008. “From Covering to Linking: the ‘Three-Step’ Strategy on Harmonious System of Social Security of China.” Journal of Public Management. Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 1–19.
MOHRSS (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS). 2010a. China Human Resource and Social Security Statistics Yearbook 2010. MOHRSS, Beijing. http://www.mohrss.gov.cn(accessed 11 October 2011).
MOHRSS (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS). 2010b. Law of Social Insurance. MOHRSS, Beijing. http://www.china.com.cnpolicy/txt/2010-10/29/content_21225907.htm (accessed 1 October 2011).
MOHRSS (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS). 2011. Statistics Bulletin 2010. MOHRSS, Beijing. http://www.mohrss.gov.cn (accessed 11 October 2011).
MOHRSS (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS). 2012. Statistical Communiqué on Human Resources and Social Security Development. http://www.mohrss.gov.cnpage.do?pa=40288020240500280124 0882b84702d7&guid=e578e8be726c4689a32b91e8f7882a45&og=8a81f3f133d 01e170133d36bed3c04d3 (accessed 14 July 2012).
National Committee on Ageing. 2011. “China Population Projection 2011–2100”. A Program Sponsored by National Committee on Ageing, Beijing.
NBS (National Bureau of Statistics of China). 2009. China Statistical Yearbook 2009. NBS, Beijing. http://www.stats.gov.cntjsj/ndsj/2009/indexeh.htm (accessed 11 October 2011).
NBS (National Bureau of Statistics of China). 2010. Rural Household Survey Yearbooks 2009. NBS, Beijing. http://www.stats.gov.cn (accessed 11 October 2011).
NBS (National Bureau of Statistics of China). 2011a. Statistical Communiqué of the People’s Republic of China on the 2010 National Economic and Social Development. NBS, Beijing. http://www.stats.gov.cnenglish/newsandcomingevents/t20110228_402705764.htm (accessed 11 October 2011).
NBS (National Bureau of Statistics of China). 2011b. The Sixth National Population Census. NBS, Beijing. http://www.stats.gov.cn (accessed 12 October 2011).
NBS (National Bureau of Statistics of China). 2012. China Statistical Yearbook 2012. NBS, Beijing. http://www.stats.gov.cntjsj/ndsj/2012/indexee.htm (accessed 15 July 2013).
NBS (National Bureau of Statistics of China). 2013. Statistical Communiqué of the People’s Republic of China on the 2012 National Economic and Social Development. NBS, Beijing. http://www.stats.gov.cnenglish/newsandcomingevents/t20130222_402874607.htm (accessed 15 July 2013).
Oksane, Heikki. 2010. The Chinese Pension System — First Results on Assessing the Reform Options. http://ec.europa.eueconomy_finance/publications/.../ecp412_ en.pdf (accessed 10 September 2011).
Palmer, Edward. 2006. “What is NDC?” In Robert Holzmann and Edward Palmer (eds.), Pension Reform: Issues and Prospects for Non-Financial Defined Contribution (NDC) Schemes. World Bank, Washington, DC. http://esa.un.orgwpp/unpp/panel_ population.htm (accessed 15 October 2011).
Ping, Chen. 2002. “A Universal Social Security System Hurts China’s International Competitiveness.” Bulletin. No. 301, China Economy Research Center, Beijing.
Shen, Ce and John B. Williamson. 2006. “Does a Universal Non-Contributory Pension Scheme Make Sense for Rural China?” Journal of Comparative Social Welfare. Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 143–153.
UNDESA (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs), Population Division. 2011. World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision, Volume I: Comprehensive Tables. http://esa.un.orgwpp/Documentation/pdf/WPP2010_Volume-I_Comprehensive-Tables.pdf (accessed 3 December 2013).
Yanzhong, Wang. 2009. Prospect on China’s Social Security Reform in Future. http://220.178.21.125xkjyck/uploads/allimg/20090415030653804.pdf (accessed 11 October 2011).
Williamson, John B. and Catherine Deitelbaum. 2005. “Social Security Reform: Does Partial Privatization Make Sense for China?” Journal of Aging Studies. Vol.19, No. 2, pp. 257–271.
World Bank. 1994. Averting the Old Age Crisis. Oxford University Press, Washington, DC.
World Bank. 2010. China a Vision for Pension Policy Reform. Volume II: Technical Annexes. World Bank, Washington, DC.
World Bank. 2011. China data. http://www.worldbank.orgen/country/china/data (accessed 15 September 2011).
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2014 UNRISD
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fang, L. (2014). Towards Universal Coverage: A Macro Analysis of China’s Public Pension Reform. In: Hujo, K. (eds) Reforming Pensions in Developing and Transition Countries. Social Policy in a Development Context. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137396112_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137396112_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-48451-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-39611-2
eBook Packages: Palgrave Economics & Finance CollectionEconomics and Finance (R0)