2006年-世界发展银行全球_Migration_in_Towns_in_China_a_Tale_of_Three_Provinces___Evidence_from_Preliminary_Tabulations_of_the_2000_Census_17页_273kb

Summary of "Migration in Towns in China, a Tale of Three Provinces"

Core Content

This paper analyzes migration patterns into towns in three provinces of China—Zhejiang, Henan, and Sichuan—using data from the 2000 census. It explores the relationship between migration and town development, focusing on the role of human capital and labor market dynamics.

Main Findings

• Town Development and Migration: There has been a notable increase in town in-migration over the past five years, especially in Zhejiang, which is more economically developed. This trend suggests that towns are playing a growing role in absorbing rural labor and contributing to non-farm job creation.

• Economic Opportunities: Economic development in towns has been a major driver of migration. In Zhejiang, the manufacturing sector dominates, while in Henan and Sichuan, agriculture remains the leading sector. However, retail and hotel services are well-developed in both Henan and Sichuan, contributing to job opportunities.

• Geographic Composition of Migrants:

  • In Zhejiang, about 41% of in-migrants came from other provinces, indicating a broader regional draw.
  • In Henan and Sichuan, the majority of migrants came from within the same province, with only about 8% from other provinces.
  • Inter-provincial migrants in Zhejiang mostly came from central and western regions, showing long-distance migration for economic opportunities.

• Reasons for Migration:

  • In Zhejiang, the primary reason for migration was to engage in production and business, job transfer, or job assignment (over 50%).
  • In Henan and Sichuan, these reasons accounted for less than 40%, suggesting that migration in these provinces is more diverse in motivation.

• Educational Attainment of Migrants:

  • In-migrants generally have a higher level of education than the local population in towns.
  • In Zhejiang, 17.8% of in-migrants had completed high school or vocational training, compared to 14% of the local population.
  • In Henan, 28.8% of in-migrants had completed high school or vocational training, compared to 19.6% of the local population.
  • In Sichuan, 37.1% of in-migrants had completed high school or vocational training, compared to 19.9% of the local population.

• Labor Market Dynamics:

  • In less-developed provinces (Henan and Sichuan), the labor market is more flexible in accommodating in-migrants.
  • In Zhejiang, the labor market is more segregated, with a clear distinction between migrants and the local population.

Key Information

• Migration Trends:

  • Migration into towns peaked between 1982-87, with about 40% of the total migration population.
  • The rate declined significantly in the 1990-95 period, but increased again in the 1995-2000 period, with Zhejiang showing the highest in-migration rate.

• Population Composition:

  • Zhejiang has a higher urbanization rate (28.5%) compared to Henan (15%) and Sichuan (14.8%).
  • Most of the population in Henan and Sichuan still resides in rural areas.

• Infrastructure and Living Conditions:

  • Access to basic services such as tapped water and cooking fuel varies significantly among the three provinces.
  • Zhejiang has better access to infrastructure and services, while Henan and Sichuan lag behind.

• Policy Implications:

  • The paper suggests that flexible migration policies and increased economic opportunities in towns can help reduce migration pressure on big cities.
  • It also highlights the importance of human capital in town development and the need to improve social security systems to attract more elderly migrants.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• The study concludes that migration into towns is not only a response to economic opportunities but also a source of human capital that can foster development.
• It recommends that policies should focus on improving labor market integration and social security in towns to encourage more sustainable migration and development.