This book sets out to examine the underlying educational implications of rapid economic transformation, using illustrative analyses of teacher labour markets during the years of unprecedented economic growth in China.

Combining historic document archive and empirical micro-level quantitative data, the book examines trends in teacher labour market and their relevant consequences by investigating wage-attractiveness of the teaching profession, consequential shifts in the composition of the teacher force, implications for student learning, and emerging alternative career destinations for teacher exits. While this book focuses on a specific country case, its analytic context is broadly relevant for a range of developing countries that aspire to better understand, through an occupational choice lens, how shifting economic landscapes influence teacher career decisions and consequentially teacher quality and student learning.

Teacher policy scholars, comparative education researchers, labour economists, economic and education historians, teacher union researchers, and education policy makers will find this volume of interest.