2006: China's Capital Social Development Report

Author: Dai Jianzhong, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Review annual cutting-edge information, predict the changing trends of the times! "Papers" are large-scale series books launched by Social Sciences Academic Press in recent years. They consist of a series of authoritative research reports that analyze and forecast the current status and development trends of China and the world in various fields such as economy and society at the end of each year. The authors of these series books are primarily experts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who are top experts from first-class research institutions in China. Their views and perspectives reflect the highest level of understanding and recognition of the realities and future of China and the world, and are of undeniable authority. At the same time, each book is accompanied by a database CD-ROM, which is both an e-book and a database. After installation, it can be read on a computer, and entering any word can quickly retrieve and search, making reading and research more convenient and efficient.
Authoritative institutions · Brand books · Annual new edition; Review annual cutting-edge information, predict the changing trends of the times. Led by the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Beijing Bureau of Statistics, the Beijing Chamber of Commerce, the Beijing Federation of Women, Peking University, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing University of Technology, and other units, experts and scholars conduct research and writing. This book covers three aspects: social structure, social issues, and social stability. Amidst complex content, it starts from the positioning and role of decision-making support, striving to meet the requirements of the decision-making level. First, it focuses on the accuracy of dynamic analysis, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to derive true dynamics; second, it focuses on forecasting, using the development status of other countries at the same stage as references to make rational predictions based on the local context; third, it focuses on countermeasures. It discusses the feasibility of each choice, explains the positive and negative effects of each option, identifies the risks of implementing the policy, or the advantages of combining several policies.
[Preface] The Beijing Academy of Social Sciences began compiling the "Capital Development Report" series of bluebooks in 1993, pioneering the practice of local social science academies compiling bluebooks for provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Over the past decade, it has provided a wealth of information and theoretical perspectives to support the decision-making of the municipal party committee and municipal government and the implementation of policies by various departments, and has become a brand project of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences. The Third and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the Sixteenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China systematically proposed the major task of building a harmonious socialist society, which met the objective requirements of China's reform and development entering a critical period and reflected the fundamental interests and common aspirations of the broad masses of the people. These new spirit and instructions profoundly reveal that economic growth is the foundation of social development, but social progress is the ultimate goal and true essence of development. Beijing is the capital of China, and the great opportunities and profound challenges encountered by China in its dual transformation of modernization and institutional reform are often concentrated in Beijing. All this requires social science workers to closely link theory with practice, make rational judgments in the face of complex social issues, and truly contribute to the comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development of Beijing's economy and society. Therefore, since 2006, the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences has divided each annual "Capital Development Report" into a series of "Beijing Bluebooks," extracting and enriching the content related to social structure, social development, and social issues from the original "Capital Development Report" to compile a separate "Social Bluebook" alongside the "Capital Economic Development Report," which is now presented to the readers—the "2006: China Capital Social Development Report." The purpose of compiling the "China Capital Social Development Report" is: ① To provide important materials and references for NPC and CPPCC delegates in formulating local regulations and consulting; ② To serve as a reference for the municipal party committee and municipal government in making decisions; ③ To facilitate government departments in hearing opinions from the academic and research community, which helps in transforming government functions and improving work mechanisms; ④ To enable the general public to understand the local and social conditions, as knowledge increases understanding, trust, and cohesion, which are themselves sufficient and necessary conditions for social development; ⑤ To provide a platform for experts, scholars, and government officials to explore, discuss, and recognize social issues and theories.
The "China Capital Social Development Report" adheres to the theoretical guidance of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on building a harmonious socialist society, remains committed to contributing to the construction of a harmonious society in Beijing, and follows the goal and direction of the Central Committee's stipulation that local social science academies primarily serve the local party committee and government and the local social and economic development.
When compiling the "China Capital Social Development Report," the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences adopts its working method based on "Three Main Lines," "Three Combinations," and "Three Teams."
"Three Main Lines": Continue to adhere to the guiding principles of the current "China Capital Development Report," unified in: First, ensuring the accuracy of dynamic analysis; second, focusing on forecasting; third, focusing on countermeasures.
"Three Combinations": First, combination of theory and practice, emphasizing a practical approach but requiring theoretical perspectives, viewpoints, and analysis to enhance understanding and improve work mechanisms; second, combination of qualitative and quantitative research, with indicators gradually increasing and being revised annually; third, combination of timeliness and sustainability, quickly and timely reflect current key, hot, and difficult issues, have a long-term vision to discover and track deeper causes and patterns of change, conducting long-term studies.
"Three Teams": Led by the research strength of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, supported by the research forces of various departments of the municipal party committee and municipal government, and collaborating with research forces in society, especially teachers and scholars from universities.
The main contents of the "China Capital Social Development Report" include: (1) A general report on the analysis of Beijing's social situation. (2) Analysis of social structure. The necessary conditions for the sound operation of society lie in the optimization of social structure, including a relatively balanced population structure, a relatively harmonious class structure, and an organizational structure where state, society, and market forces are reasonably coordinated. (3) Analysis of social issues. Every society has social issues, and in today's period of social transformation, these issues are particularly complex. However, society progresses precisely by resolving these issues. We pay special attention to fundamental, persistent social issues closely linked to social change, such as: family and marriage, social welfare and social security, poverty among certain urban and rural groups, education and healthcare, and changes in values. We also focus on the causes, processes, and impacts of major social events. (4) Specific themes. Each year's "China Capital Social Development Report" selects a specific issue in line with changes or focuses in the social situation, analyzing it through a group of articles. The theme for 2005 was: "Social Stability in Beijing." As the capital, maintaining stability has special significance, and at the same time, building a harmonious society and reducing and eliminating unstable factors are top priorities. Currently, particular attention is paid to: ① Urban demolition and rural land expropriation; ② Integrating floating populations into urban management; ③ Labor-capital relations. (5) Social chronology. Reviewing major events in Beijing's social life over the past year makes us feel that we are writing history, and the cause we are striving for today will undoubtedly be a glorious chapter in our national history. Adding a "chronology" is an pioneering attempt in our various "bluebooks." Over the past two decades of reform and opening up, we have gained a valuable experience: the overall direction must be adhered to, while specific strategies and methods allow for "trial and error." This principle should also be followed in building a harmonious socialist society. We remain committed to the principle of "freedom of thought, inclusiveness, and mutual respect" in exploring solutions to specific social issues and in academic research. In discussions on the same issue, we sometimes select articles from different perspectives, with varying views, believing that this is beneficial for broadening perspectives, making comprehensive choices, and setting alternative solutions. Of course, the views of the experts and scholars are the results of their individual research and reflection and do not represent any institution or the editorial committee of this book.
After the book went into typesetting, the Beijing Bureau of Statistics released data on Beijing's economic situation from the first national economic census. Due to improvements in accounting methods, some data that had been underreported for years were identified, leading to significant changes in figures such as GDP. Some data cited in this book could not be updated in time, and how to adjust them awaits unified opinions from professional departments. Changes in statistical methods affect the numbers, not the actual social and economic life itself, so the analysis of the essence of social and economic issues will not be fundamentally biased due to the revision of the figures.
Compiling the "China Capital Social Development Report" is a key supported project of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences. The structural arrangement of the book, coordination of manuscript collection, and organization of activities are all handled by the Institute of Sociology of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Editor-in-Chief of Social Sciences Academic Press, Xie Shuguang, Director of the "Papers" Publishing Center, Fan Guangwei, editor Ding Fan, and all the other friends who have contributed significantly to the publication of this book. I sincerely hope that the newly launched "China Capital Social Development Report" will gradually mature and, like the various works of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, make increasingly greater contributions to the healthy development of Beijing's social and economy!
President of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, Zhu Mingde
December 26, 2005
Written in Beijing Academy of Social Sciences