Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2017, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (4): 119-142.

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Intergenerational Accumulation and the Housing Inequality of Children:Based on a Case Study of Guangzhou

CHEN Hongyan   

  1. School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University
  • Online:2017-07-20 Published:2017-07-20

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Abstract:

This paper examines the impact of parental support on housing inequality through the lens of intergenerational accumulation. Previous studies have analyzed social inequalities through the perspective of cumulative advantage and cumulative disadvantage,as well as focused on the cumulative process. However,intergenerational factors have been neglected in prior research. As such,this paper seeks to investigate housing inequality from two aspects:cause-effect mechanisms and process analysis,in order to enrich the literature on intergenerational accumulation. Our findings on cause-effect mechanisms showed that housing reforms have opened up the housing market to individual buyers. Moreover,parental support affects the buying power of children,and hence leads to housing inequality problems. The process analysis found that housing inequality is not a constant concept. It fluctuates due to the influence of certain factors. This paper extends prior research by considering the influence of intergenerational accumulation on housing inequality problems. Compared with the synchronic results presented in the study of housing stratification,this study explores the intergenerational mobility problems of housing inequality,based on parental support differences from the diachronic perspective. Against a specific historical background and the macro-social system,we explored the reasons,results and processes of housing inequality caused by the intergenerational factors,and clarified the particular process and historical development of urban residents in Guangzhou in getting houses and housing class status. This paper will also contribute to a deeper understanding of the historical reasons for synchronic housing inequality.

Key words: intergenerational accumulation of disadvantage, intergenerational accumulation of advantage, housing inequality