A unique and far-reaching study of Chinas contemporary social change from the perspectives of consumption and consumerism. China has undergone profound social changes, with far-reaching consequences on all walks of life since reform began thirty years ago. To fully understand Chinas transformation, the landscape must be surveyed from the perspective of consumption, where you can find many intrinsic links between seemingly unrelated aspects of social reform. From Asceticism to Consumerism Institutional Change and Rise of a Consumer Society in Contemporary China is the result of a seven year research campaign conducted by leading