Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2009, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 39-59.

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“Personal Choice” or “Forced Choice”：An Event History Analysis of the Corporative Employees’ Occupational Mobility in Nanjing

Long Shuqin   

  • Online:2009-11-20 Published:2009-11-20

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Abstract:

This paper uses event history analysis of the empirical data of 666 corporative employees in Nanjing to delve into their occupational mobility. The analysis revealed the factors that influenced the occupational mobility and the mobility trend in the labor market that was differentiated by the types of ownership of the work units （danwei）. The study found out that the opportunity structure resulting from the societal transformation was the primary force behind the corporative employee’s career mobility， that the division in the labor market resulting from the societal transformation laid down the game rules for their occupational mobility， and that the individuals’ family backgrounds and personal properties were only chips in these games. Thus， the personal choice of the corporative employees in their occupational mobility during China’s societal transformation was very limited as the choice was determined by the social structure； in other words， it was a forced choice.   

Key words: occupational mobility , event history analysis , timevarying explanatory variables, civic engagement ,  social network ,  interpersonal network , internet