China’s Emerging Middle Class: Beyond Economic Transformation

Just 20 years ago, a distinct socio-economic middle class was virtually non-existent in China. Today, no thorough discussion of the country’s economic, social or political trends is complete without taking into account the rapid emergence of China’s middle class and its impact on the country’s social structure and political system.

On September 22 and 23, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings will host a diverse group of scholars from the United States, China and elsewhere to discuss China’s emerging middle class. Participants will present papers on a variety of topics, including social stratification and social mobility in China; the Chinese middle class compared to its counterparts around the world; the values, world views and political aspirations of the Chinese middle class; and how this group might affect China’s rise on the world stage. After each panel, participants will take audience questions.

See conference agenda »