Class experiences and attitudes towards the economic system in Hong Kong

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Abstract

In recent years, issues like the reduction of opportunity for upward social mobility, income inequality, collusion between government and businesses, and the monopoly of big businesses have attracted a lot of attention in Hong Kong. Do Hong Kong people want to see reforms in the economic system to deal with these issues? Based on 56 in-depth interviews, this study shows that while most informants still regard Hong Kong as a place with a lot of opportunities, they do not necessarily deny that inequality exists in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, most informants accept the unequal status quo; and some of the reasons which explain their acceptance of inequality are related to the different class experiences of the informants. A minority of the informants is discontented with income inequality and the monopoly of big businesses, and they are mainly middle-aged working class people who are active in the trade union movement, and middle-class people working in the non-profit sector.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)41-63
Number of pages23
JournalHong Kong journal of Social Sciences
Issue number41
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2011

Keywords

  • Class experiences
  • Economic system
  • Hong Kong
  • Social mobility
  • Workers organizations

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