The reform of social welfare in China

This article surveys and offers comparative reflections on the contours and achievements of China's pension system in light of its imminent collapse and the reassessment of development priorities associated with privatization, market transition and fiscal crisis since the late 1970s. It assesses various reform options including proposals for the formation of a three-pillar system, the pooling of funds at the provincial level, and the expansion of coverage, from the perspective of comprehensive development and the overcoming of China's pervasive urban-rural divide.