China is home to a fifth of the world�s inhabitants. For the last
several decades, this huge population has been in flux: fertility has
fallen sharply, mortality has declined, and massive rural-to-urban
migration is taking place. The state has played a direct role in these
changes, seeing population control as an important part of its intention
to modernize the country.
In this insightful new work, Nancy E. Riley argues that China�s
population policies and outcomes are not simply imposed by the state
onto an unresponsive citizenry, but have arisen from the social
organization of China over the past sixty years. Riley demonstrates how
China�s population and population policy are intertwined and interact
with other social and economic features. Riley also examines the
unintended consequences of state directives, including the extraordinary
number of �missing girls,� the rapid aging of the population, and an
increase in inequality, particularly between rural and urban
residents.
Ultimately, China�s demographic story has to be understood as a complex,
multi-pieced phenomenon. This book will be essential reading for
researchers and students of China and social demography, as well as
non-specialists interested in the changing nature of China�s population.
