Sinocism Live Sinocism Live: Understanding China's Exam-centric Education System
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Oct 31, 2025 In this insightful discussion, Ruixue Jia, a political economist at UC San Diego, and Hongbin Li, a labor economist at Stanford, explore their groundbreaking book on China's exam-centric education system. They delve into the Gaokao, revealing its roots in imperial exams and its role in social mobility and stability. The conversation highlights issues of educational inequality, the impact of a tutoring crackdown, and how families invest heavily in education. Additionally, they discuss the challenges of attracting teachers to rural areas and the significance of education in China's global competitiveness.
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Centralized Hierarchical Tournament
- China’s education system is a centralized hierarchical tournament that ranks students at every stage.
- Ranking, hierarchy, and central control shape family investment and social outcomes.
Gaokao Mirrors Imperial Meritocracy
- The Gaokao echoes the imperial exam: a meritocratic selection tool that legitimizes rulers.
- It offers social mobility and stability by making outcomes appear earned rather than assigned by birth.
Meritocracy's Illusion Grows With Wealth
- The Gaokao appears meritocratic but is increasingly unequal as family resources diverge.
- Economic development amplified tutoring, housing and prep advantages that skew outcomes toward the wealthy.
