Human Development Report of China: Economic Transition and the Role of Government

Author: China Financial and Economic Publishing House
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-11-01
Features: Following a comprehensive survey of human development status in the 1997 edition of the China Human Development Report, this report focuses more specifically on a single topic, though its scope is quite broad and will have a far-reaching impact on future human development. During China's transition from a central planning system to a market-oriented civil society, the role of the government has changed. This report discusses this transformation. One of the most severe challenges China faces in this complex process is the need to assign new roles to the government. The concept of human development encompasses changes in fundamental human capabilities, which, in addition to the ability to access public goods and services, includes longevity, health, access to knowledge, and participation in community life. Human development focuses on the living conditions of all people, not just statistical averages. Therefore, it is closely related to issues of fair distribution, poverty, and the situation of women and ethnic minorities. Before the economic transition period, some basic components of human development, such as healthcare conditions and life expectancy, improved, many infectious diseases were eradicated, people's actual income rose, cultural knowledge spread, and women's status made significant progress. On the other hand, political space for personal freedom and expression was severely restricted, mass movements brought immense suffering to many people, and the development of a vibrant civil society was hindered.