MCLC: reform of the hukou system

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Marina Rudyak <marina_rudyak at yahoo.de>
Subject: reform of the hukou system
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List members might be interested in this piece, which can accessed as a
pdf download, on the reform of the hukou system.

Marina

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Source: ECFIN Economic Briefs no. 26 (July 2013):
http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/economic_briefs/2013/eb26_
en.htm

 
Reform of the hukou system: a litmus test of the new leadership
Bu Annika Melander and Kristyna Pelikanova
 

Abstract: Since the release of the 12th Five-Year Plan in 2011, a reform
of China's household registration system – the so-called hukou reform - is
mentioned as a possible tool to promote labour mobility, boost incomes,
rebalance the growth model towards consumption and create a stable urban
society. While there has been a lot of "talk of reforms", concrete
proposals remain scarce so far (beyond some experiments at the provincial
level). In the context of growing urbanisation pressures in China, a hukou
reform is increasingly becoming both an economic and political necessity –
and expectations are rife that it will be included in the new urbanisation
plan due by the end of this year. In view of its complexity and heavy
financial implications, the hukou reform appears as a litmus test of the
new leaders' willingness and capacity to undertake reform.