This book investigates the paradox of China's rapid economic expansion and the simultaneous widening of income inequality among its population. The authors, Azizur Rahman Khan and Carl Riskin, utilize their expertise in development economics to analyze the structural and policy-driven causes of this disparity. By synthesizing national survey data with macroeconomic indicators, they construct a framework that explains how globalization has unevenly distributed the benefits of growth across different regions and social strata.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational empirical study for understanding the socio-economic landscape of post-reform China. Scholars frequently cite the authors' rigorous use of statistical data to challenge prevailing assumptions about the uniformity of China's economic success.