Weiyue Yang | Julius-Maximilians - Universität Würzburg (original) (raw)

Papers by Weiyue Yang

Research paper thumbnail of Inefficient urban-rural resource allocation and reduced tuition benefits for preschool education: an example from a Chinese county

Asian Education and Development Studies, 2024

Purpose-Taking urban-rural disparity into account, this research examines the current service pro... more Purpose-Taking urban-rural disparity into account, this research examines the current service provision of preschool education at the local level in China. Design/methodology/approach-Following a qualitative design, the research is based on a case study on the preschool service provision in Luochuan County in China, with data collected from semi-structured interviews with grassroots officials and residents from the county's rural and urban regions. Findings-This research finds that preschool services are inefficiently delivered between the county's rural and urban areas. While services are oversupplied in rural regions, the popular demand for urban kindergartens is inadequately addressed. Moreover, the tuition subsidy offered by the local government has drastically decreased in recent years. Research limitations/implications-This research is confined to a single-case study, so its findings are not necessarily applicable to all Chinese localities. Nevertheless, it proves that these problems in preschool service provision can be a result of the central authority's tight control. Social implications-Given China's rapid urbanization and fertility decline, this research argues that overinvestment in rural kindergartens can be a widespread phenomenon throughout China. It also suggests a decreasing popular demand for other public services, such as childcare, in Chinese rural regions. This research calls for special attention to the persistent regional discrepancy in preschool service standards and the welfare cuts after the revenue centralization reform. Originality/value-This research contributes to a clearer picture of the current preschool service delivery by Chinese local governments, which remains largely underexplored by far. It also provides updates on the country's long-existing urban-rural discrepancy in preschool services.

Research paper thumbnail of Bereaved Single-Child Parents as the Focus of Family Planning Officials: State Support, Social Stability, and the Unresolved Consequences of China's One-Child Policy

Journal of Contemporary China, 2022

The shidu problem as an unexpected consequence of the historical one-child policy has become the ... more The shidu problem as an unexpected consequence of the historical one-child policy has become the new focus of Chinese family planning agents. Given that the unresolvable dispute over state support has caused shidu activists' continuous petitioning of governments, local family planning agents take the whole shidu group as a major instability factor while paying undue attention to them due to the strong impact of stability maintenance on their political career. Subsequently, the overemphasis on social stability and shidu families has led to alienation as reflected in the rising economic and social cost for the task. Ultimately, the shidu problem not only disrupts the central government's plan to address population aging, but also will constrain the development of China's future population policy.

Research paper thumbnail of “Bereaved Single-Child Families” (Shidu Jiating): Dealing with an Unintended Consequence of China’s One-Child Policy

This chapter discusses the political and social background of the shidu phenomenon--bereaved sing... more This chapter discusses the political and social background of the shidu phenomenon--bereaved single-child families under China's "one-child policy". Next, it presents the official policies adopted to assist this particular “weak group” (ruoshi qunti 弱势群体) in Chinese society, before turning to a detailed analysis of the academic debate surrounding the issue. Both official policy documents and research literature tend to see shidu as a group characterized by serious challenges regarding old-age support, both social ostracism and self-selected social isolation as well as bad health and psychological issues, such as depression. Finally, the chapter takes a look at the often-contentious dynamics between local authorities and shidu families. This study is based on a wide range of sources such as laws, policies, numerous academic journal articles, unofficial documents such as petitions, interviews with local officials in China’s birth-planning agencies et cetera. To examine these materials, we employ discourse analysis based on the sociology of knowledge approach of discourse.

Research paper thumbnail of ‘Bereaved single-child families’ (shidu jiating): Dealing with an unintended consequence of China’s one-child policy

Social Welfare in India and China: A Comparative Perspective, 2020

This chapter discusses the political and social background of the shidu phenomenon--bereaved sing... more This chapter discusses the political and social background of the shidu phenomenon--bereaved single-child families under China's "one-child policy". Next, it presents the official policies adopted to assist this particular “weak group” (ruoshi qunti 弱势群体) in Chinese society, before turning to a detailed analysis of the academic debate surrounding the issue. Both official policy documents and research literature tend to see shidu as a group characterized by serious challenges regarding old-age support, both social ostracism and self-selected social isolation as well as bad health and psychological issues, such as depression. Finally, the chapter takes a look at the often-contentious dynamics between local authorities and shidu families. This study is based on a wide range of sources such as laws, policies, numerous academic journal articles, unofficial documents such as petitions, interviews with local officials in China’s birth-planning agencies et cetera. To examine these materials, we employ discourse analysis based on the sociology of knowledge approach of discourse.

Research paper thumbnail of Inefficient urban-rural resource allocation and reduced tuition benefits for preschool education: an example from a Chinese county

Asian Education and Development Studies, 2024

Purpose-Taking urban-rural disparity into account, this research examines the current service pro... more Purpose-Taking urban-rural disparity into account, this research examines the current service provision of preschool education at the local level in China. Design/methodology/approach-Following a qualitative design, the research is based on a case study on the preschool service provision in Luochuan County in China, with data collected from semi-structured interviews with grassroots officials and residents from the county's rural and urban regions. Findings-This research finds that preschool services are inefficiently delivered between the county's rural and urban areas. While services are oversupplied in rural regions, the popular demand for urban kindergartens is inadequately addressed. Moreover, the tuition subsidy offered by the local government has drastically decreased in recent years. Research limitations/implications-This research is confined to a single-case study, so its findings are not necessarily applicable to all Chinese localities. Nevertheless, it proves that these problems in preschool service provision can be a result of the central authority's tight control. Social implications-Given China's rapid urbanization and fertility decline, this research argues that overinvestment in rural kindergartens can be a widespread phenomenon throughout China. It also suggests a decreasing popular demand for other public services, such as childcare, in Chinese rural regions. This research calls for special attention to the persistent regional discrepancy in preschool service standards and the welfare cuts after the revenue centralization reform. Originality/value-This research contributes to a clearer picture of the current preschool service delivery by Chinese local governments, which remains largely underexplored by far. It also provides updates on the country's long-existing urban-rural discrepancy in preschool services.

Research paper thumbnail of Bereaved Single-Child Parents as the Focus of Family Planning Officials: State Support, Social Stability, and the Unresolved Consequences of China's One-Child Policy

Journal of Contemporary China, 2022

The shidu problem as an unexpected consequence of the historical one-child policy has become the ... more The shidu problem as an unexpected consequence of the historical one-child policy has become the new focus of Chinese family planning agents. Given that the unresolvable dispute over state support has caused shidu activists' continuous petitioning of governments, local family planning agents take the whole shidu group as a major instability factor while paying undue attention to them due to the strong impact of stability maintenance on their political career. Subsequently, the overemphasis on social stability and shidu families has led to alienation as reflected in the rising economic and social cost for the task. Ultimately, the shidu problem not only disrupts the central government's plan to address population aging, but also will constrain the development of China's future population policy.

Research paper thumbnail of “Bereaved Single-Child Families” (Shidu Jiating): Dealing with an Unintended Consequence of China’s One-Child Policy

This chapter discusses the political and social background of the shidu phenomenon--bereaved sing... more This chapter discusses the political and social background of the shidu phenomenon--bereaved single-child families under China's "one-child policy". Next, it presents the official policies adopted to assist this particular “weak group” (ruoshi qunti 弱势群体) in Chinese society, before turning to a detailed analysis of the academic debate surrounding the issue. Both official policy documents and research literature tend to see shidu as a group characterized by serious challenges regarding old-age support, both social ostracism and self-selected social isolation as well as bad health and psychological issues, such as depression. Finally, the chapter takes a look at the often-contentious dynamics between local authorities and shidu families. This study is based on a wide range of sources such as laws, policies, numerous academic journal articles, unofficial documents such as petitions, interviews with local officials in China’s birth-planning agencies et cetera. To examine these materials, we employ discourse analysis based on the sociology of knowledge approach of discourse.

Research paper thumbnail of ‘Bereaved single-child families’ (shidu jiating): Dealing with an unintended consequence of China’s one-child policy

Social Welfare in India and China: A Comparative Perspective, 2020

This chapter discusses the political and social background of the shidu phenomenon--bereaved sing... more This chapter discusses the political and social background of the shidu phenomenon--bereaved single-child families under China's "one-child policy". Next, it presents the official policies adopted to assist this particular “weak group” (ruoshi qunti 弱势群体) in Chinese society, before turning to a detailed analysis of the academic debate surrounding the issue. Both official policy documents and research literature tend to see shidu as a group characterized by serious challenges regarding old-age support, both social ostracism and self-selected social isolation as well as bad health and psychological issues, such as depression. Finally, the chapter takes a look at the often-contentious dynamics between local authorities and shidu families. This study is based on a wide range of sources such as laws, policies, numerous academic journal articles, unofficial documents such as petitions, interviews with local officials in China’s birth-planning agencies et cetera. To examine these materials, we employ discourse analysis based on the sociology of knowledge approach of discourse.