A Longitudinal Analysis of Chinese Urban Residents’ Livelihood Mobility Based on Investigation of Livelihood Trajectories

Rapid economic development in the past four decades in China has brought about significant consequences for people’s livelihoods. Healthy social mobility is fundamental for equality of opportunity, economic vitality, and socioeconomic sustainability. This paper examines the intragenerational livelihood mobility of urban residents in recent decades based on a case study in Guangzhou City and Foshan City, Guangdong Province, Southeast China. Longitudinal livelihood trajectory surveys have been investigated to gain research data. The primary determinants of livelihood mobility were also elucidated through analysis of muti-logistic regression. The results show that five livelihood trajectories are summarized based on their vertical movements in social status. The results further indicate that class polarization exists in urban residents’ mobility. 48.2% of respondents have experienced upward mobility, and 33.6% of them have even stepped over social classes. Meanwhile, the livelihoods of the others remained unchanged or suffered downward mobility. Respondents with male gender, better educational attainments, positive personality, and lower hierarchies of first occupations are associated with a higher probability of upward mobility. These results suggest that wealth redistribution among different social groups should be implemented to promote the benefits of economic growth being shared more broadly, and ultimately to boost socioeconomic sustainability.