ABSTRACT
China’s welfare system has been a typical “residual welfare regime”, which did not manifest too many flaws in the planned economy era. However, the economic reform and market-oriented transformations in recent decades have shaken the original well-balanced “residual” and “needs” pattern. The decline of the “work unit system” has led to two consequences. First, it has radically transformed the social and economic structures which gave rise to increased and diversified needs of social welfare. Second, the government is pressed to shoulder more responsibility for social welfare provision. This chapter adopts a case study approach to examine changing social welfare needs and expectations in Guangzhou, a relatively developed city in Southern China. Based upon our field interviews conducted in Guangzhou, together with policy, documentary and secondary data analysis, the chapter examines how Guangzhou residents evaluate the social service and social welfare provision provided by the government. More specifically, the chapter also reports on the welfare expectations of Guangzhou residents through focus group discussions.
