China's high-speed economic growth has created a burgeoning middle class. Despite its relatively low proportion in terms of the total population, its absolute number is considerable given China's huge population. According to conservative estimates, the Chinese middle class currently total over 100 million people. Some Chinese scholars predict that the middle class will account for 40% of China's population in the next decade, amounting to approximately 400 million. This is a huge number of people, who will exert considerable influence on China's social, economic, cultural and political sectors.

This key book gathers together the latest research results from renowned Chinese scholars who have comprehensively examined the formation of China's middle class. The coverage takes in key background issues, socioeconomic status and sociopolitical functions, the definition, values, social attitudes, income and consumption characteristics of China's rapidly expanding middle class.

The Rising Middle Classes in China is divided into four parts: Observing China's Emerging Middle Class from Multiple Perspectives; Definition, Composition and Scale of China's Middle Class; Identity and Social Attitudes of China's Middle Class; Socioeconomic Status of China's Middle Class.

Based on extensive survey data and case analysis, this critical new book outlines the formation process and current status of China's middle class, and predicts its future development and influence on the sociopolitical transformation of China in the 21st century.

As well as appealing to all social scientists both students and academics this book will serve as an essential resource for business people around the world who want to better identify and understand a phenomenon which will impact the prosperity and opportunities of peoples and businesses around the world for generations to come.