To track the dynamics of income distribution in China, the Chinese Household Income Project (CHIP) has conducted four waves of household surveys, in 1988, 1995, 2002, and lastly 2007. These surveys were carried out as part of a collaborative research project on incomes and inequality in China organized by Chinese and international researchers, with assistance from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The CHIP project participants and other researchers have analyzed the data from the first three waves and published a wide range of articles, reports, and books. Descriptions of the CHIP surveys and key findings can be found in Griffin and Zhao (1993); Riskin, Zhao, and Li (2001); and Gustafsson, Li, and Sicular (2008). This volume not only contains analyses based on the data from the fourth wave, 2007 but also uses data from the earlier waves to understand trends over time.

Eichen and Zhang (1993) describe the 1988 survey, and Li et al. (2008) describe the 1995 and 2002 surveys. This Appendix provides basic information about the 2007 survey. The CHIP surveys are closely related to the NBS household survey. Li et al. (2008) discuss how the NBS household survey samples were selected. Additional details about the NBS household surveys can be found in recent NBS statistical reports and publications.