白领、中产与消费——当代中产阶层的职业结构与生活状况

    White Collar, Middle Class and Consumption: Occupational Structure of Contemporary Middle Class and Its Life Situations

    • 摘要: 在当前经济转型升级、产业结构调整的背景下,社会结构和中产阶层的发展也出现了一些新的趋势。基于2006—2015年中国社会状况综合调查分析发现,我国城镇地区率先进入了“白领社会”,白领从业人员数量超过全社会就业人口的一半,实现了职业结构的初步转型;由白领为主体构成的中产阶层约占1/4城镇人口,城镇中产阶层与中等收入群体和高收入群体的重合度更高。一部分白领虽然职业地位较高,但因受到收入水平的局限而无法跻身中产阶层。虽然白领群体的生活机会有所分化,但是“白领社会”这个新阶段对于人们的生活福利和整个社会的消费文化都有重要启示。数据显示:一方面,中产家庭的生活质量更高,对于文化娱乐和耐用品消费的欲望也较高,消费升级的趋势最先出现在中产阶层,逐渐向中低阶层扩散;另一方面,较高的住房支出很大程度上制约了中产家庭的消费和福利。政策建议强调打造现代服务业就业体系,扩大中产阶层群体,加强“中高端”消费市场供给,满足消费升级需要以及围绕改善民生扩大消费。

       

      Abstract: In the background of the socio-economic transition in China, especially the transformation of economic-growth mode and industry structure, some new trends on social structure and middle class emerged. This paper focuses on the occupational structure of the middle class and their consumption in relation to the socio-economic changes. Based on the data from the China Social Survey 2006-2015, it was found that the white-collar group exceeded half of the urban population. The middle class, mainly constituted by white-collar workers, accounted for about one quarter of the urban population. The transformation of occupational and industry structure indicated that urban China entered the stage of 'white collar society'. Although the white collar group is differentiated in terms of life chances, the new era of 'white collar society' has important implications for people's well-being as well as consumer culture of the society. According to the empirical analysis, on the one hand the quality of life of the middle class families is higher compared with the lower group and their aspiration for cultural and leisure consumption and durable goods is also significant-a new trend of 'consumption upgrade' initiated by the middle class is spreading to the whole society; on the other hand, the high housing expenditure and uncertainties associated with incomplete social security system restricted consumption and well-being of the middle class to a large extent. Policy suggestions emphasize building up modern service employment system so as to expand the middle class, and enhancing provision of the 'medium-high end' consumer market to cope with the trend of 'consumption upgrade'.

       

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