Detecting spatial heterogeneity in the determinants of intercity migration in China

Abstract

Spatial variations exist in migration patterns and the processes causing the observed patterns. Yet, far less attention has been given to the latter. Even if a few studies have engaged in spatial heterogeneity in the process of migration, the scale multiplicity is not emphasised.

Moving to ‘Bei–Shang–Guang’? Internal migration, local hukou barriers and labour market outcomes among college graduates in China

“…The relationship between migration and social mobility is a crucial topic in population geography (Champion & Gordon 2021; Fielding, 1992). Different spaces imply different social, economic, and employment opportunities, and such differences exist not only between countries but also within a country (G. Li et al, 2023). The ‘escalator region hypothesis’, which was first framed by Fielding (1992), has been argued to be of great help in understanding the role of large urban centres in the complicated relationship between social mobility and migration.…”

“…By 2016, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong had received 49.887 million migrants in total, which accounted for 20.4% of the total migrating population (China News, 2017). A very recent study on Chinese internal migration have noted the spatial heterogeneity in the process of intercity migration (G. Li et al, 2023), but it has mainly focused on the factors influencing migration decisions (G. Li et al, 2023). This study argues that spatial heterogeneity not only affects migration decisions, but also has important implications for the life chances of individual migrants.…”

“…Second, migration is typically considered as a human capital investment, and is often associated with upward social mobility, for example, higher income, better career achievement in literature (Becker 1962; Flippen, 2013). The household ( hukou ) system, which divides all Chinese citizens into urban–rural and local–nonlocal, is a very distinctive feature of China's internal migration from that of Western countries (G. Li et al, 2023). Local hukou holders can obtain housing, employment, education, health care, and other aspects of social welfare provided by the local government, and in‐migrants are in an inferior position, as they have limited access to public resources (J. Li et al, 2015).…”

Mapping the threads: Geospatial Exploration of Shared Modifiable Tuberculosis Disease Risks in a clinic-based population

“…The substantial unexplained residual variation in our model underscores the complexity of TB geographical distribution. We could not account for some factors that could have affected the case geography of our study population, such as strain types ( 9),( 45), migration ows (46), (47), and the distinction between recent transmissions and reactivation of latent infections. Moreover, we did not have data on potential risk factors, such as household size, income, education, and healthcare access, which are likely to in uence the spatial clustering of TB cases and their association with socio-behavioral factors.…”

Migration choices of China’s older adults and spatial patterns emerging therefrom (1995–2015)

“…Many studies have been conducted to identify the spatial patterns concerning migration in China and the factors influencing these patterns; these studies have relied on different data sources and methods. On the whole, China's migrants are predominantly of working age, and they are primarily driven by economic considerations that underlie their keenness to move from less developed rural areas to economically developed mega-cities in search of better employment opportunities [24][25][26][27]. Since barriers to household registration are faced in most of China's cities, achieving household registration after migration is often difficult for older adults.…”