Exchange Theory-Based Analysis of Client-Contractor Status Imbalanced in China

In Chinese construction industry, the client-contractor status imbalanced problem severely constrains the sustainable development of Chinese construction industry, is imperative to be tackled with. This research brings the clients and contractors into the analytical frame of sociology and chooses the exchange theory as analytical tool, divides the construction project exchange into three stages and attempt to figure the exchange balancing mechanism out through analyzing the resource dependence as well as action selection between the exchange parties in the every different stage. This paper would provides balancing mechanism framework which balancing the client-contractor exchange relationship through adjusting the imbalanced measured variables. The core objective is to present some academic guide for Chinese construction industry to achieve sustainable development.