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Tracking rural-to-urban migration in China: Lessons from the 2005 inter-census population survey

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  • Avraham Ebenstein
  • Yaohui Zhao

Abstract

We examined migration in China using the 2005 inter-census population survey, in which migrants were registered at both their place of original (hukou) residence and at their destination. We find evidence that the estimated number of internal migrants in China is extremely sensitive to the enumeration method. We estimate that the traditional destination-based survey method fails to account for more than a third of migrants found using comparable origin-based methods. The 'missing' migrants are disproportionately young, male, and holders of rural hukou. We find that origin-based methods are more effective at capturing migrants who travel short distances for short periods, whereas destination-based methods are more effective when entire households have migrated and no remaining family members are located at the hukou location. We conclude with a set of policy recommendations for the design of population surveys in countries with large migrant populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Avraham Ebenstein & Yaohui Zhao, 2015. "Tracking rural-to-urban migration in China: Lessons from the 2005 inter-census population survey," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 69(3), pages 337-353, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rpstxx:v:69:y:2015:i:3:p:337-353
    DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2015.1065342
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. William Lavely, 2001. "First Impressions from the 2000 Census of China," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 27(4), pages 755-769, December.
    2. Cai, Fang & Wang, Dewen & Du, Yang, 2002. "Regional disparity and economic growth in China: The impact of labor market distortions," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(2-3), pages 197-212.
    3. Zai Liang & Miao David Chunyu, 2013. "Migration within China and from China to the USA: The effects of migration networks, selectivity, and the rural political economy in Fujian Province," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 67(2), pages 209-223, July.
    4. Zai Liang & Michael White, 1996. "Internal migration in China, 1950–1988," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 33(3), pages 375-384, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Guo, Rufei & Zhang, Junsen & Zhou, Minghai, 2024. "The demography of the great migration in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Clement Imbert & Marlon Seror & Yifan Zhang & Yanos Zylberberg, 2022. "Migrants and Firms: Evidence from China," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(6), pages 1885-1914, June.
    4. Chen, Shuai & Oliva, Paulina & Zhang, Peng, 2022. "The effect of air pollution on migration: Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    5. Xuewei Wang & Shuangli Ding & Weidong Cao & Dalong Fan & Bin Tang, 2020. "Research on Network Patterns and Influencing Factors of Population Flow and Migration in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Shuai Chen & Paulina Oliva & Peng Zhang, 2017. "The Effect of Air Pollution on Migration: Evidence from China," NBER Working Papers 24036, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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