This study focuses on the effects of market reform on the life chances of rural people in China. Based on comparative ethnographical evidence from three townships of rural Guangdong province, this book provides a more recent and detailed story about the social inequality in rural China, a further explanation for the institutional analysis on the social stratification of China, a new typology of the developmental results , and the changing roles of political elite of rural china.

Inhalt
Chapter 1 Introduction.- Overview of the Study.- The State, Market and Life Chances: The Puzzles and How They Are Explained.- Preview of the Remaining Chapters.- Chapter 2 Literature Review and the Framework of the Study.- Literatures Review.- Analytical Framework of the Study.- Methodology and the Field-Site.- Chapter 3 Market Penetration and the Life Chances of Peasants in Guangdong.- Market Penetration in Guangdong.- The Increase and Distribution of Earning Sources.- Inter-Governmental Revenue Sharing and Peasants' Life Chances.- Chapter 4 A New Cooperative Economy.- An Introduction of Fan Township.- Peasants' Lives in New Cooperative Economy.- Inter-governmental Revenue sharing and Cadres' Governances.- The Stratification Results of Rural Fan Township.- Chapter 5 An outskirt Economy.- Lee Township and Its Market Penetration.- The Earnings of Peasants in Lee Township.- Revenue Sharing in Lee Township.- From the Redistributors to Volunteer Fireman.- The Stratification Results of Rural Lee Township.- Chapter 6 A Local Economy.- Market Penetration in Chan Township.- The Village Cadres as Assistants of Predators.- The Stratification Result in Rural Chan Township.- Chapter 7 Conclusions and Implications.- Summary of the Findings.- The Findings Interpreted.- Limitations.