28 September 2005
China's entry into the world market has not been as devastating for its unskilled labour force as expected, leading political scientist Professor Dorothy J. Solinger, from the University of California, will tell a public lecture tomorrow.
Professor Solinger interviewed Chinese city officials and unemployed Chinese about the impact of China joining the World Trade Organisation in 2001.
When China joined the WTO, it was thought the move would have a negative impact on its agriculture and manufacturing industries which, before 2001, housed 80 per cent of China's labour force.
But Professor Solinger's research suggests that, four years on, the situation isn't as dire for China's unskilled workforce as once thought.
Professor Solinger's lecture is hosted by Monash University's Asian Business and Economics Research Unit.
Professor Solinger has written five books on China, the most recent of which, Contesting Citizenship in Urban China, won the 2001 Joseph R. Levenson Prize of the Association for Asian Studies for the best book on 20 th century China published in 1999.
What:
'The Impact of China's Entry into the WTO on China's Workers' public lecture
When: Wednesday 28 September, 11 am -- 12.30 pm
Where: Room 15, building 2, Monash University, Caulfield campus
Who: RSVP by COB Tuesday 27 September on +61 3 9903 1031 or email fan-fah.lam@buseco.monash.edu.au .
Professor Solinger will be available for interview on Wednesday 28 September. To arrange an interview or for further information contact Ms Natasha Whalley, Media Communications on +61 3 9905 9201 or 0437 458 457 or Ms Jacqui Golding, Faculty of Business and Economics on +61 3 9903 2265.
| 
