Shaming and employer social insurance compliance behaviour in Shanghai

Nyland, Chris; Hartel, Charmine; Thomson, Stanley Bruce; Zhu, Cherrie Jiuhua

Shaming and employer social insurance compliance behaviour in Shanghai

Author

Nyland, Chris

Hartel, Charmine

Thomson, Stanley Bruce

Zhu, Cherrie Jiuhua

Date

2012

Keywords

compliance, employer, China, shaming, social security

Abstract (summary)

Social security regimes must be underpinned by enforcement mechanisms designed to compel employers to fulfil their contribution requirements. In this paper we extend debate on China’s social security system by discussing whether the inclusion of re-integrative shaming in the repertoire of mechanisms the state utilises to enforce employer compliance is likely to prove effective. Drawing on audited data provided by the Shanghai Bureau of Labour and Social Security and on interviews with employers and Bureau staff we argue that though shaming has the potential to become an important social security enforcement mechanism in China, optimism that this will occur in the near future is not justified.

Publication Information

Nyland, Chris, Charmine Härtel, S. Bruce Thomson, & Cherrie Zhu. "Shaming and Employer Social Insurance Compliance Behaviour in Shanghai." Journal of Contemporary Asia 42, no. 4 (2012), 629-650. doi: 10.1080/00472336.2012.706746.