“Urban villages” redevelopment and cooperative governance of the floating population housing issue: Evidence from big Chinese cities

Urban villages are declining areas in China that attract floating populations due to low rent and favorable locations. These villages have poor housing conditionsand substantial negative externalities, yet they also possess a potential that motivates governments to redevelop them. This research explores a cooperative governance model for “urban village” redevelopment and floating population housing through a case study focusing on the welfare of these populations. Using data from interviews and scenario analysis, the case study reveals that a proper redevelopment mode could alleviate the floating population’s housing difficulties, such as saving up to 154 minutes of commuting time per workday and reducing monthly housing costs by 150 dollars for each migrant. Finally, the research suggests that an inclusiveredevelopment mode should be adopted for all future projects in urban villages. Considering the different characteristics of urban villages and the owner’s wishes, the government could pursue redevelopment based on “comprehensive redevelopment + unitizing leasing + property management” or “government rent + social security system + public rental housing leasing.”