The 'Hard' Redistribution in China

Authoritarian leaders face a tradeoff of effectively balancing benefits between elites and masses to maximize the regime’s survival and stability prospects. This is especially salient when the leaders must undertake “hard redistribution," sustain and improve the welfare state within the current political framework but without a substantial increase in fiscal commitments and social contributions. Facing the challenges of formidable structural changes such as rapid population aging and slower economic growth, the Chinese government has been leveraging regional disparity in social welfare provision to undertake inter-regional redistribution instead of inter-class redistribution to meet public demand for better social protection. This lecture sheds light on why and how the Chinese regime engages in “hard redistribution” without causing significant political and social instability driven by distributive conflicts.

*For those interested in attending from the public community, please contact chinacenter@princeton.edu. This event will only be in-person and we will not have a virtual option.

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