转轨时期中国居民消费行为规律及调整对策

消费需求不足是制约转轨时期中国经济发展的一个关键因素。有效扩大居民消费,实现经济可持续发展,是经济学界关注的重要学术问题。本文借鉴西方消费理论以及国内外相关研究成果,全方位、多视角分析转轨时期中国居民消费行为规律及其变化趋势,探究扩大居民消费的基本对策,以期提高国民生活质量,实现经济的持续增长和社会的和谐发展。

THE CONSUMER BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND REGULATIVE STRATEGIES OF CHINESE RESIDENTS IN THE ECONOMIC TRANSITION PERIOD

The steady economic growth has uplifted the living standards of the Chinese people, thus reshaping a stereotyped pattern of consumption. However, subject to the indeterminacy of future income and expenditure, inadequate consumer demand has arisen in China and posed a serious constraint to the country's economic development. Over the years, the issue of how to increase consumer demand and achieve a sustainable economic growth effectively has been one of the great concerns for the economic academia of China. Based on the existing theoretical and empirical research findings, such as Random Walk Hypothesis, Excess Sensitivity, Absolute Income Hypothesis, Precautionary Saving Theory, Relative Income Hypothesis, Buffer-Stock Saving Theory, and Liquidity Constraint Theory, this paper takes a multidimensional positive approach to the study of the consumer behavior patterns outstanding in China's transition from the command to market economy, characterized by a relatively low rate of consumption, a higher level of consumer needs and a tendency towards internationalization. The paper ends by proposing a number of regulative strategies that are supposed to produce facilitating effects on future consumer behavior in the Chinese context. These strategies are intended to increase employment and income, narrow down the gap of income, stimulate effective consumer demand, create a safe, congenial climate of consumption, accelerate the legislation process of credit, and expand consumption on credit. Building such a healthy environment of consumption is regarded as highly conducive to the realization of human survival needs, the improvement of the living texture of the people, faster economic development and overall social progress.