A Study On The Problem Of Shanghai Workers Poverty (1927-1937)

This dissertation examines the poverty problem of the Shanghai workers from 1927 to 1937. In 1920s, Workers poverty problem was becoming more and more outstanding along with the accelerated pace of the industrialization and the urbanization. During the period of the republic China’s politics was a disorder status, social unrest, conflict. The endless war brought about people’s poverty and countries weak. In the national government period a lot of financial resources were consumed by war. From 1929 July to 1930 June war fund accounted for half of government expenditure. In rural bandit hooliganism, continuous wars, exorbitant taxes and levies a dime a dozen, frequent natural calamities, these resulted in rural economic bankruptcy, the farmers were pushed into the abyss of poverty. Because lots of poor farmers moved to Shanghai, so Workers poverty, in some extent, cound be considered as the problem of rural poverty to urban shift.In modern times, for a very long time, due to the existence of concession, Shanghai became a lucky dog in the unfortunately China because it was safe from war of depressions. But this decade, unfortunately, in two sonhu wars, industry was severely damaged and a large number of workers unemployed. One prominent feature of Shanghai economic structure was that the textile industry was dominant in economy. Workers were mainly the ordinary workers without much technology. Factories used of women and children. Worker average wage standard was low. When the 1930s economic crisis affected Shanghai, workers poverty becomed more serious. The traditional folk helped organization cannot satisfy the needs of modern industrial society. In Shanghai modern social security system was still not completely established.For Shanghai workers there was not one safety net which could prevent them sliding into poverty trap. Shanghai government has taken some measures to alleviate worker poverty. But the government always bited off abundance than one can chew.The policy of Shanghai Municipal Council was not assuming the responsibility of assistance to the poor. Poverty people are a heterogeneous population. There were a variety of reasons which lead to poverty. These reasons related to their family’s characteristics and environment.In Shanghai immigrants were the main body of the city. Many associations of fellow provincials or townsmen were established by Immigrations. The association is a public colorific autonomy organization. It has the advantage of low cost, high efficiency and flexible advantage on the aid to the poor workers. In order to provide loans to unemployed workers, the Shanghai government established the poor borrow this place; Municipal government took workers’ education seriously; Municipal government announced many local laws and regulations, in order to protect the lawful rights and interests of workers; It also aid unemployed workers. These measures relieved workers poverty. The policy of Shanghai Municipal Council was not responsible for relief for poor people. But the legal syetem of public concession was perfect, municipal facilities were good, the tax bearing was equitable and rational. There was a good environment for modern industrial development. It also promoted the development of industry. It provided more employment opportunities for workers.