关键词: 制度变迁, 家庭户结构, 当代城市

Abstract: Data from the four population censuses since 1982 reveals the state and changes of China's urban household structure in different institutional environments. In the early stage of the reform and opening up when the planned economy system was dominant, household nuclearization tended to be prominent according to the 1982 and 1990 census data. Relaxation of the migration policy led to reduction of single-parent households, and the birth control policy promoted growth of couples households. Under the socialist market economy system after 1992, the types of household registration of urban population became diversified，and the welfare housing system began to transform into commercialized housing system. Based on the 2000 census, nuclear household continue to be of a high proportion，but the tendency of household nuclearization is restrained. After 2000, the birth control policy, elderly social security and housing reform have had profound impacts on urban household structure.

Keywords: Institutional Change, Household Structure, Contemporary Cities