Economic exclusion and social isolation : the social impact of unemployment on urban workers and their families in China

This article explores the impact of unemployment on Chinese families and the extent to which the unemployed have drawn on their social support networks for assistance in coping with their economic and social needs. These support networks may be inadequate to provide long-term support. Thus, it is essential that social policies and unemployment policies be devised to provide more effective support for the unemployed. In this article, the authors draw on research conducted in Beijing from 1997 to 1999 and use case studies for illustration.