Bio: Qin Gao is an Associate Professor at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service, a Research Associate at Columbia University Population Center, and currently a Visiting Scholar at the India China Institute at the New School University. Dr. Gao’s research examines poverty, income inequality, social welfare policies, and family economic and subjective well-being in China and cross-nationally.

 

Talk Synopsis: China has had the world’s greatest poverty reduction during the past 30 years, yet alongside this remarkable achievement are rapidly growing income inequality and many emerging welfare needs that threat its sustained development and political stability. Is China truly close to eliminating poverty? How unequal is the Chinese society? How have social policies in China evolving and to what extent are they addressing citizens’ welfare needs? When both market and social policy forces are considered, is China more polarized or harmonized? In this talk, Dr. Gao will examine these questions building on her extensive research on these topics using both empirical data and critical analysis. We anticipate a stimulating, interdisciplinary discussion among economists, political scientists, sociologists, anthropologists, social policy scholars, and anyone who is interested in China studies or cross-national comparisons.

 

Moderator: Mark Frazier, Co-Academic Director, India China Institute

Discussant: Dr. Carl Riskin, Distinguished Professor of Economics, CUNY Queens College