Inequality, crime and the floating population in China

Since the Open and Reform Policy, China has been making great progress toward modernization. A salient phenomenon accompanying economic boom is increased social inequality and crime, and these are destabilizing Chinese society. This paper shows how income and social inequality were socially, structurally and institutionally constructed during the reform period because of a continuation of the pre-reform social strata that deprived peasants of equal access to education, employment, housing, and health care opportunities. The social inequality gives rise to a huge floating population which is socially disorganized and has no attachment, commitment, or involvement in communities. Low external control and strain also led to high crime rates among the floating population. © Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2007.