IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v25y2023i7d10.1007_s10668-022-02286-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The dual effects of population migration on the achievement of sustainable development goals in Tibet, China

Author

Listed:
  • Ying Pan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jin Zhu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhongxu Zhao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhennan Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Junxi Wu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

China’s urbanization process, premised on the belief that migration contributes to economic growth, has entailed extensive population movement. However, the overall effects of population migration on regional sustainable development goals (SDGs) remain unclear. China’s achievement of SDGs hinges on the sustainable development of Tibet, which is economically less developed and ecologically fragile. We established county-level SDG indicators for Tibet using pixel-level maps and statistical data on diverse socioeconomic and environmental topics: GDP, population density, health, employment, agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and vegetative cover. Our underlying assumption was that regional differences in economic development and Tibet’s eco-migration policy have induced extensive domestic migration. Moreover, we assumed that migration affects the achievement of SDGs directly and indirectly through its economic impacts. Accordingly, we developed and tested a conceptual framework using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results revealed that from 2000 to 2015, there was progress toward achievement of all of the selected SDGs, with Tibet achieving an average increased score of 11.0. The hypothesized SEM explained the total SDG score and those of SDGs 1, 2, 6, 11, and 15. Population migration accounted for 16% of the variation in SDG scores. Migration had direct negative impacts and indirect positive impacts on the total SDG score via its effect on economic development. Specifically, population migration had stronger positive effect on out-migration counties than on in-migration counties, with higher SDG scores for the former associated with public services and ecological systems. To reverse the negative impacts of migration on certain in-migration counties, we recommend pursuit of high-quality urbanization, entailing the provision of more educational and medical facilities, livelihood resources, and off-farm jobs for migrant settlers. Promoting grass-based animal husbandry in rural areas could increase rural employment and ameliorate the side effects of migration on the SDGs.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Pan & Jin Zhu & Zhongxu Zhao & Zhennan Li & Junxi Wu, 2023. "The dual effects of population migration on the achievement of sustainable development goals in Tibet, China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 5931-5947, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:25:y:2023:i:7:d:10.1007_s10668-022-02286-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02286-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-022-02286-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-022-02286-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhan, Peng & Ma, Xinxin & Li, Shi, 2021. "Migration, population aging, and income inequality in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    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. 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.
    4. W. W. Immerzeel & A. F. Lutz & M. Andrade & A. Bahl & H. Biemans & T. Bolch & S. Hyde & S. Brumby & B. J. Davies & A. C. Elmore & A. Emmer & M. Feng & A. Fernández & U. Haritashya & J. S. Kargel & M. , 2020. "Importance and vulnerability of the world’s water towers," Nature, Nature, vol. 577(7790), pages 364-369, January.
    5. Stark, Oded & Bloom, David E, 1985. "The New Economics of Labor Migration," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 75(2), pages 173-178, May.
    6. Ahmed, Zahoor & Asghar, Muhammad Mansoor & Malik, Muhammad Nasir & Nawaz, Kishwar, 2020. "Moving towards a sustainable environment: The dynamic linkage between natural resources, human capital, urbanization, economic growth, and ecological footprint in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Zahoor Ahmed & Muhammad Mansoor Asghar & Muhammad Nasir Malik & Kishwar Nawaz, 2020. "Moving towards a sustainable environment: The dynamic linkage between natural resources, human capital, urbanization, economic growth, and ecological footprint in China," Post-Print hal-03557938, HAL.
    8. Joseph Friedman & Hunter York & Nicholas Graetz & Lauren Woyczynski & Joanna Whisnant & Simon I. Hay & Emmanuela Gakidou, 2020. "Measuring and forecasting progress towards the education-related SDG targets," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7805), pages 636-639, April.
    9. Xiaomei Fan & Hongguang Liu & Zimeng Zhang & Jie Zhang, 2018. "The Spatio-Temporal Characteristics and Modeling Research of Inter-Provincial Migration in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-14, February.
    10. Jian-Zhou Wei & Kai Zheng & Feng Zhang & Chao Fang & Yu-Yu Zhou & Xue-Cao Li & Feng-Min Li & Jian-Sheng Ye, 2019. "Migration of Rural Residents to Urban Areas Drives Grassland Vegetation Increase in China’s Loess Plateau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-18, November.
    11. Zhenci Xu & Sophia N. Chau & Xiuzhi Chen & Jian Zhang & Yingjie Li & Thomas Dietz & Jinyan Wang & Julie A. Winkler & Fan Fan & Baorong Huang & Shuxin Li & Shaohua Wu & Anna Herzberger & Ying Tang & De, 2020. "Assessing progress towards sustainable development over space and time," Nature, Nature, vol. 577(7788), pages 74-78, January.
    12. Huang, Lin & Shao, Quanqin & Liu, Jiyuan & Lu, Qingshui, 2018. "Improving ecological conservation and restoration through payment for ecosystem services in Northeastern Tibetan Plateau, China," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(PA), pages 181-193.
    13. Piriya Pholphirul, 2019. "South–south labour migration and sustainable development: Implications for Southeast Asian countries," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(1), pages 1-12, January.
    14. Brett A. Bryan & Lei Gao & Yanqiong Ye & Xiufeng Sun & Jeffery D. Connor & Neville D. Crossman & Mark Stafford-Smith & Jianguo Wu & Chunyang He & Deyong Yu & Zhifeng Liu & Ang Li & Qingxu Huang & Hai , 2018. "China’s response to a national land-system sustainability emergency," Nature, Nature, vol. 559(7713), pages 193-204, July.
    15. Zhenci Xu & Yingjie Li & Sophia N. Chau & Thomas Dietz & Canbing Li & Luwen Wan & Jindong Zhang & Liwei Zhang & Yunkai Li & Min Gon Chung & Jianguo Liu, 2020. "Impacts of international trade on global sustainable development," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(11), pages 964-971, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dongni Han & Deyong Yu & Jiangxiao Qiu, 2023. "Assessing coupling interactions in a safe and just operating space for regional sustainability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Qiang Xing & Chaoyang Wu & Fang Chen & Jianguo Liu & Prajal Pradhan & Brett A. Bryan & Thomas Schaubroeck & L. Roman Carrasco & Alemu Gonsamo & Yunkai Li & Xiuzhi Chen & Xiangzheng Deng & Andrea Alban, 2024. "Intranational synergies and trade-offs reveal common and differentiated priorities of sustainable development goals in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Ying Liu & Rongrong Zhang & Ming Li & Chunshan Zhou, 2020. "What Factors Influence Rural-To-Urban Migrant Peasants to Rent out Their Household Farmland? Evidence from China’s Pearl River Delta," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-19, October.
    4. GAO Tianming & Anna Ivolga & Vasilii Erokhin, 2018. "Sustainable Rural Development in Northern China: Caught in a Vice between Poverty, Urban Attractions, and Migration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Emrah Kocak & Hayriye Hilal Baglitas, 2022. "The path to sustainable municipal solid waste management: Do human development, energy efficiency, and income inequality matter?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1947-1962, December.
    6. Sun, Yunpeng & Tian, Wenjuan & Mehmood, Usman & Zhang, Xiaoyu & Tariq, Salman, 2023. "How do natural resources, urbanization, and institutional quality meet with ecological footprints in the presence of income inequality and human capital in the next eleven countries?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    7. Driouchi, Ahmed & Zouag, Nada, 2010. "Internal Mobility and Likelihood of Skill Losses in Localities of Emigration: Theory and Preliminary Empirical Application to Some Developing Economies," MPRA Paper 21799, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Apr 2010.
    8. Miao, Yang & Razzaq, Asif & Adebayo, Tomiwa Sunday & Awosusi, Abraham Ayobamiji, 2022. "Do renewable energy consumption and financial globalisation contribute to ecological sustainability in newly industrialized countries?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 688-697.
    9. Melo, Grace & Ames, Glenn, 2016. "Driving Factors of Rural-Urban Migration in China," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235508, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    10. Yung-Jaan Lee, 2022. "Hybrid Ecological Footprint of Taipei," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, April.
    11. Riza Radmehr & Samira Shayanmehr & Ernest Baba Ali & Elvis Kwame Ofori & Elżbieta Jasińska & Michał Jasiński, 2022. "Exploring the Nexus of Renewable Energy, Ecological Footprint, and Economic Growth through Globalization and Human Capital in G7 Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, September.
    12. Wang, Shuhong & Tian, Wenqian & Lu, Binbin, 2023. "Impact of capital investment and industrial structure optimization from the perspective of "resource curse": Evidence from developing countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    13. Nancy McCarthy & Gero Carletto & Benjamin Davis & Irini Maltsoglou, 2006. "Assessing the Impact of Massive Out-Migration on Agriculture," Working Papers 06-14, Agricultural and Development Economics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - ESA).
    14. Aladejare, Samson Adeniyi, 2022. "Natural resource rents, globalisation and environmental degradation: New insight from 5 richest African economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    15. Malayaranjan Sahoo & Narayan Sethi, 2022. "The dynamic impact of urbanization, structural transformation, and technological innovation on ecological footprint and PM2.5: evidence from newly industrialized countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 4244-4277, March.
    16. Yugang He, 2022. "Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Consumption and Trade Policy: Do They Matter for Environmental Sustainability?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, May.
    17. Mullan, Katrina & Grosjean, Pauline & Kontoleon, Andreas, 2011. "Land Tenure Arrangements and Rural-Urban Migration in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 123-133, January.
    18. Wei, Shuxin & Wei, Wenshan & Umut, Alican, 2023. "Do renewable energy consumption, technological innovation, and international integration enhance environmental sustainability in Brazil?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 172-183.
    19. Liu, Haiying & Saleem, Muhammad Mansoor & Al-Faryan, Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh & Khan, Irfan & Zafar, Muhammad Wasif, 2022. "Impact of governance and globalization on natural resources volatility: The role of financial development in the Middle East North Africa countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    20. Jahanger, Atif & Hossain, Mohammad Razib & Usman, Muhammad & Chukwuma Onwe, Joshua, 2023. "Recent scenario and nexus between natural resource dependence, energy use and pollution cycles in BRICS region: Does the mediating role of human capital exist?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:25:y:2023:i:7:d:10.1007_s10668-022-02286-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.