Housing Studies
Volume 25, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 83-100

Housing migrant workers in rapidly urbanizing regions: A study of the Chinese model in Shenzhen (Article)

Wang Y.P. , Wang Y.* , Wu J.
  • a Heriot-Watt University, School of the Built Environment, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom
  • b Beijing University, College of Urban and Environmental Studies, Beijing, China
  • c Beijing University, Shenzhen Graduate School, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, China

Abstract

China has experienced a huge wave of rural to urban migration over the last 25 years; however, Chinese cities do not have the large-scale slum settlements found in other developing countries. Has China found a new way to solve the housing problems of migrants and the urban poor? This paper addresses this question and reports the findings of a recent research project carried out in Shenzhen City. In general, Chinese migrants are poor in comparison with official urban residents. The majority of them live in shared rooms or small apartments in the so-called urban villages. Housing poverty, especially overcrowding, is a serious problem. This paper also highlights the positive contributions made by urban villages and private landlords in housing the large number of migrants in cities. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Migration Housing the poor Private rented housing Chinese urbanization Housing need Housing condition

Index Keywords

China housing conditions Shenzhen housing provision Guangdong housing policy Urbanization poverty rural-urban migration migrant worker
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77449115648&doi=10.1080%2f02673030903362019&partnerID=40&md5=e1fc2768c4f55a19e9403e366d59aeb5
DOI: 10.1080/02673030903362019
ISSN: 02673037
Cited by: 90
Original Language: English