Using data from the ＂Survey of Social Networks and Occupational Experience in Chinese Cities in 2009＂ on five cities （Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Jinan and Xi＇an）, this paper examines factors influencing Chinese...Using data from the ＂Survey of Social Networks and Occupational Experience in Chinese Cities in 2009＂ on five cities （Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Jinan and Xi＇an）, this paper examines factors influencing Chinese urban workers＇ patterns of job mobility and acquisition of economic status in the post-reform era. The results show that workers with high educational levels and those with low educational levels occupy different segments of the labor market and have completely different paths to economic status acquisition. In the case of workers with a low educational level, job mobility is the most Jmpo^ant factor boosting income levels, while human capital variables （years of schooling and work experience） have no effect on income. By contrast, job mobility has no effect on the income of workers with a high educational level, whose income stratification Js most affected by their human capital. This research reveals the two-track model of urban workers＇ acquisition of economic status in different urban labor markets in transitional China.展开更多
In this paper, I suggest that, even more than the state, capitalist enterprise is the most influential institution of neoliberalism, both for the effect it conveys in terms of management in public institutions （New P...In this paper, I suggest that, even more than the state, capitalist enterprise is the most influential institution of neoliberalism, both for the effect it conveys in terms of management in public institutions （New Public Management） and its influence on the subjectivity of neoliberal individuals. However, one could stress, from the perspective of economic theory of the firm, the neoliberal transformations of the capitalist enterprises itself. Two transformations that are taking place from the 1980s seem particularly important. The first is the firm＇s transformation in a ＂nexus of contracts＂ as claimed by the agency theory of Jensen and Meckling that describe and enable the current financialization of the economy. The second is the trans- formation of organisations in a ＂nexus of skills＂ as claimed by the cognitive paradigm of the firm that apply to the company economic reasoning in terms of ＂human capital＂. I then examine the effects on neoliberal subjectivation of these two major changes, from the labour point of view. First, the neoliberal subject imagines, describes and manages itself as the subject of investment in ＂human capital＂. Second, the disappearance of traditional employment contract corresponds to the emergence and intensification of another form of contract, the ＂psychological contract＂, which tends to become a major form of relationship-employed but also a model for relationships between individuals. Finally, lifelong learning is becoming the major form of empowerment of employees, but also a ＂lifestyle＂ based on the apprecia6on of one＇s own human capital and the infinite task of perfecting oneself to match up our ＂skills portfolio＂ with the labour market. These transformations of neoliberal subjectivity have costs that can be summarised by the widespread phe- nomena of burn out, but also the birth of a new form of racism, based on ＂quality＂ of human capital （skills, abilities, capabilities）.展开更多
文摘Using data from the ＂Survey of Social Networks and Occupational Experience in Chinese Cities in 2009＂ on five cities （Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Jinan and Xi＇an）, this paper examines factors influencing Chinese urban workers＇ patterns of job mobility and acquisition of economic status in the post-reform era. The results show that workers with high educational levels and those with low educational levels occupy different segments of the labor market and have completely different paths to economic status acquisition. In the case of workers with a low educational level, job mobility is the most Jmpo^ant factor boosting income levels, while human capital variables （years of schooling and work experience） have no effect on income. By contrast, job mobility has no effect on the income of workers with a high educational level, whose income stratification Js most affected by their human capital. This research reveals the two-track model of urban workers＇ acquisition of economic status in different urban labor markets in transitional China.
文摘In this paper, I suggest that, even more than the state, capitalist enterprise is the most influential institution of neoliberalism, both for the effect it conveys in terms of management in public institutions （New Public Management） and its influence on the subjectivity of neoliberal individuals. However, one could stress, from the perspective of economic theory of the firm, the neoliberal transformations of the capitalist enterprises itself. Two transformations that are taking place from the 1980s seem particularly important. The first is the firm＇s transformation in a ＂nexus of contracts＂ as claimed by the agency theory of Jensen and Meckling that describe and enable the current financialization of the economy. The second is the trans- formation of organisations in a ＂nexus of skills＂ as claimed by the cognitive paradigm of the firm that apply to the company economic reasoning in terms of ＂human capital＂. I then examine the effects on neoliberal subjectivation of these two major changes, from the labour point of view. First, the neoliberal subject imagines, describes and manages itself as the subject of investment in ＂human capital＂. Second, the disappearance of traditional employment contract corresponds to the emergence and intensification of another form of contract, the ＂psychological contract＂, which tends to become a major form of relationship-employed but also a model for relationships between individuals. Finally, lifelong learning is becoming the major form of empowerment of employees, but also a ＂lifestyle＂ based on the apprecia6on of one＇s own human capital and the infinite task of perfecting oneself to match up our ＂skills portfolio＂ with the labour market. These transformations of neoliberal subjectivity have costs that can be summarised by the widespread phe- nomena of burn out, but also the birth of a new form of racism, based on ＂quality＂ of human capital （skills, abilities, capabilities）.
