Abstract
Modelling has found there is no compelling evidence workplace stressors have a significant negative impact on China’s academics’ efficacy, engagement, or job satisfaction. We utilise Marxist transition theory both to develop an explanation for this surprising finding and to encourage scholars to add Marxism to their conceptual lens when analysing work and employment in China. In support of these goals, we outline how Marx theorised labour should be rewarded during the transition from capitalism to communism, explore if Marxist principles help inform China’s academic labour management practices, and distinguish issues China’s government needs to address in order to sustain the support of academics for the post-capitalist transition.