BRINGING STRONG TIES BACK IN - INDIRECT TIES, NETWORK BRIDGES, AND JOB SEARCHES IN CHINA

Granovetter's (1973, 1974) ''strength-of-weak-ties'' argument has led to fruitful research on how individuals are marched to jobs in marker economies. In analyzing the institution for assigning jobs in China, I make distinctions (I) between information and influence that flow thr ough networks during job searches and (2) between direct ties and indi rect ties used by job-seekers. I find that in China personal networks are used to influence authorities who in turn assign jobs as favors to their contacts, which is a type of unauthorized activity facilitated by strong ties characterized by trust and obligation. In a 1988 survey in Tianjin, I find that (1) jobs are acquired through strong ties mor e frequently than through weak ties, (2) both direct and indirect ties are used to obtain help from job-assigning authorities, (3) job-seeke rs and their ultimate helpers are indirectly connected through interme diaries to whom both are strongly tied, and (4) job-seekers using indi rect ties are more likely to obtain better jobs than those using direc t ties.