An explanation of the motivation and obstacles affecting Rural-Urban migration: The case of China

Abstract

Rural-Urban migration is an important issue we have to face in our industrialization. It is also a basic way to solve the three questions concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers in China. Based on Push-Pull theories, this paper tries to build models by using the recursive approach in Dynastic Macroeconomics. These models indicate that the push from towns, especially the development of industrial technology in urban areas, is the key reason causing rural labor migration from the rural areas to the urban areas. This conclusion has also been supported by the Logit econometric model based on the macroeconomic variables, and by the descriptive analysis based on microeconomic variables. Meanwhile, the study also shows that further popularizing universal education in rural areas will have a deep influence on this migration. Besides, gender family income and region gap also affect rural workers' migration.

Parental Migration, Intergenerational Obligations and the Paradox for Left-Behind Boys in Rural China

“…Although the sample is from only one township in rural China, the findings in this study are consistent with those in previous studies in other parts of the country, which found that economic incentives are an essential motivation for internal migration (Cheng et al, 2006;Fan, 2005;Hu, 2012b;Ye et al, 2013). This study sheds further light on some underlying socio-cultural explanations pertaining to economic motives; for example, making contributions to social events (weddings and funerals) in village life, and fulfilling social obligations for left-behind sons', rather than daughters', futures.…”

“…The parents' need to migrate for work due to a lack of land to cultivate, or lack of employment opportunities, can be seen as a 'push' factor that drives the rural population to migrate to other places. On the other hand, more employment opportunities and higher salaries 'pull' them to migrate to developed regions (Cheng, Shi, & Ma, 2006).…”

Where are the migrants from? Inter- vs. intra-provincial rural-urban migration in China

“…By observing migrant households' spending behaviors, she infers that most rural migrants will only stay in cities temporarily since the earnings from migration have little impact on the consumption patterns of rural households. Echoing the importance of "push factors" in the migration decision, Cheng et al (2006) state that the backwardness of the industrial technology in rural areas is the key reason why many rural workers leave rural areas in search of non-farm work elsewhere. Using the 1993 survey data in Hubei province, Zhu (2002) presents evidence that the rural-urban income gap is the primary factor underlying rural-urban migration.…”

“…Zhao (1999a, b), Zhu (2002) and Cheng et al (2006). 1 Although previous research has generated an impressive body of work, most of the existing studies are from the perspective of migrant sending area, and there are few studies from the perspective of the urban area, e.g., where do the migrants come from?…”

Are China’s ethnic minorities less likely to move?

“…Different research questions relating to different migration-flows have been asked and various research methods applied. See for example Zai (2001), Ma (2001), Zhao (2002), Knight andSong (2005, Zhong (2006), Shen (2011), Cheng (2006, Li (2003) and Fan (2008). However, despite their making up more than 110 million persons, little research has focused on geographical mobility among China's ethnic minorities and how it compares to movement among the ethnic majority.…”