Ru Xin is former vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a former research fellow at the Philosophy Research Institute of CASS.Lu Xueyi is former director of the Institute of Sociology at CASS and former president of the Chinese Sociological Association of the Academic Committee of CASS. He is currently Professor and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Sociology. Li Peilin is Director of the Institute of Sociology and Director of the Department of Sociology at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

• CONTENTS1. New Challenges to China’s Social Development: China’s Social Development in 2008–2009—An Overall Analysis and Forecast Report Li Peilin and Chen Guangjin2. Report on Research into the People’s Livelihood in 2008Li Peilin and Li Wei3. Living Conditions and Policy Needs of the Disaster-Affected Population in the Wenchuan Earthquake Area Wang Fenyu, He Guangxi, Ma Ying, Deng Dasheng, and Zhao Yandong4. 2008 Quality of Life in China Study ReportVictor Yuan and Zhang Hui5. 2008 Disabilities and Welfare in China Study Report Chen Xinmin, Chen Gong, and Lu Qingzhe6. College Graduate Employment and Skills Survey ReportLi Chunling and Wang Boqing7. An Overview of Police Offi cers’ Views on Public Order in China, 2008–2009Zhang Peiwen, Zhang Shanshan, and Tian Feng8. Consumption in Urban and Rural Areas of China Lu Qingzhe9. Urban and Rural Minimum Social Security System: New Stage and Range of Coverage Zhang Shifei and Tang Jun10. Further Progress with Endowment Insurance in 2008 Wang Fayun and Li Yu11. Report on Education Developments in China in 2008 Yang Dongping12. Direction of—and Choices in—New Health Care Reform in China Edward Gu13. Environmental Protection in 2008 Yan Shihui and Qian Yong14. Report on the Future Supply of the Working Age Population and Demand for Employable Skills in ChinaZhang Yi15. Analysis Report on Internet Public Opinion in China in 2008Zhu Huaxin, Shan Xuegang, and Hu Jiangchun