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Why People Leave Their Rural Hometown:Evidence from 8 Provinces in China

Author

Listed:
  • He Zhu

    (Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University)

Abstract

This paper aim to clarify what motivate people to migrate from rural to urban area in China. The focus of most previous studies of migration are restricted to the wage gap between the origin and destination. However, this study uses the RUMiC (2008) data set that has individual characteristics of migrants and stayers, combined with China Statistical Yearbook data, to explore the decision making process on China’s rural to urban migration. This research provides empirical evidence that migration is a joint decision-making process characterized by the choices of migration and destination. The results also show that the living condition in hometowns pushes people to migrate. For example, the probability of moving decreases by 25% if the consumption of the rural area increases by 20% ( 10,000 RMB).

Suggested Citation

  • He Zhu, 2018. "Why People Leave Their Rural Hometown:Evidence from 8 Provinces in China," OSIPP Discussion Paper 18E010, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    • Handle: RePEc:osp:wpaper:18e010
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yaohui Zhao, 1999. "Leaving the Countryside: Rural-to-Urban Migration Decisions in China," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 89(2), pages 281-286, May.
    2. Taylor, J Edward & Rozelle, Scott & de Brauw, Alan, 2003. "Migration and Incomes in Source Communities: A New Economics of Migration Perspective from China," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 52(1), pages 75-101, October.
    3. Zhao, Yaohui, 1999. "Labor Migration and Earnings Differences: The Case of Rural China," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 47(4), pages 767-782, July.
    4. Zhang, Kevin Honglin & Song, Shunfeng, 2003. "Rural-urban migration and urbanization in China: Evidence from time-series and cross-section analyses," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 386-400.
    5. Bao, Shuming & Bodvarsson, Örn B. & Hou, Jack W. & Zhao, Yaohui, 2007. "Interprovincial Migration in China: The Effects of Investment and Migrant Networks," IZA Discussion Papers 2924, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Zhaopeng Frank Qu & Zhong Zhao, 2014. "Evolution of the Chinese rural-urban migrant labor market from 2002 to 2007," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(2), pages 316-334, April.
    7. J. Edward Taylor & Scott Rozelle & Alan deBrauw, 1999. "Migration, Remittances, and Agricultural Productivity in China," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 89(2), pages 287-291, May.
    8. Brian Lee & Paul Waddell, 2010. "Residential mobility and location choice: a nested logit model with sampling of alternatives," Transportation, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 587-601, July.
    9. Connelly, Rachel & Maurer-Fazio, Margaret, 2015. "Left Behind, At Risk, and Vulnerable Elders in Rural China: What the RUMIC Data Reveal about the Extent, Causes, and Consequences of Being Left Behind," IZA Discussion Papers 9213, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Yaohui Zhao, 2003. "The Role of Migrant Networks in Labor Migration: The Case of China," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 21(4), pages 500-511, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internal migration mobility; Decision making; Industry; Nested logistic model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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