Chapter 1 Introduction -- Overview of the Study -- The State, Market and Life Chances: The Puzzles and How They Are Explained -- Preview of the Remaining Chapters.- Chapter 2 Literature Review and the Framework of the Study -- Literatures Review -- Analytical Framework of the Study -- Methodology and the Field-Site.- Chapter 3 Market Penetration and the Life Chances of Peasants in Guangdong -- Market Penetration in Guangdong -- The Increase and Distribution of Earning Sources -- Inter-Governmental Revenue Sharing and Peasants’ Life Chances -- Chapter 4 A New Cooperative Economy -- An Introduction of Fan Township -- Peasants’ Lives in New Cooperative Economy -- Inter-governmental Revenue sharing and Cadres’ Governances -- The Stratification Results of Rural Fan Township.- Chapter 5 An outskirt Economy -- Lee Township and Its Market Penetration -- The Earnings of Peasants in Lee Township -- Revenue Sharing in Lee Township -- From the Redistributors to “Volunteer Fireman” -- The Stratification Results of Rural Lee Township -- Chapter 6 A Local Economy -- Market Penetration in Chan Township -- The Village Cadres as Assistants of Predators -- The Stratification Result in Rural Chan Township -- Chapter 7 Conclusions and Implications -- Summary of the Findings -- The Findings Interpreted -- Limitations.