Welcome to the Institute of Social Science Survey (ISSS), Peking University

Established in September 2006, the Institute of Social Science Survey (ISSS) at Peking University serves as a premier data survey platform for the social sciences and an interdisciplinary hub for empirical research on contemporary China.

Our core mission is to collect high-quality, longitudinal microdata that reflects the dynamic state of Chinese society. This data provides a critical evidence base for academic research and informed public policy formulation. To this end, ISSS is the home of several flagship national survey projects, including:

• China Family Panel Studies (CFPS): A nationwide longitudinal survey tracking demographic, economic, and social changes within Chinese communities, families, and individuals.

  
  

• China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS): A comprehensive survey dedicated to studying the health, economic, and social well-being of the middle-aged and elderly population in China.

  
  

• Enterprise Survey for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in China (ESIEC): A project focused on understanding the drivers and challenges of innovation and entrepreneurship among Chinese enterprises.

  
  

To further expand its capacity, ISSS, with a major grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), established the NSFC-PKU Data Center for Management Science in 2014. The Data Center builds upon ISSS's foundational work by:

• Enhancing Data Collection: Expanding survey activities into new and critical fields of study.

  
  

• Providing Data Services: Hosting and disseminating data via the "Peking University Open Research Data Platform," with CFPS and CHARLS data currently available to the global research community.

  
  

• Promoting Evidence-Based Research: Fostering an open, interdisciplinary research environment that leverages our rich data resources to address major national economic and social challenges, translating findings into actionable policy recommendations.

  
  

Guiding our academic rigor is a distinguished advisory board composed of experts from Peking University and leading international scholars, who provide strategic counsel on survey design, methodology, and sampling. The insights derived from our data are shared through influential publications, such as the "People's Livelihood in China" report series, with forthcoming reports on income, education, and family dynamics.

Through its commitment to methodological excellence—supported by a professional team using state-of-the-art computer-aided survey systems—ISSS is dedicated to advancing social science research and contributing to societal progress.