China population today
Volume 13, Issue 5-6, 1996, Pages 21-22

Increasing pressure: impacts of migration on cities. (Article)

Jian X.*
  • a [Affiliation not available]

Abstract

This article discusses the floating population in China: its social welfare and impact on city services and housing. Population pressure in rural areas stems from the millions of rural surplus laborers. Absorption of rural workers dropped from 12.6 million to 2.6 million during 1984-88 and 1989-92. There are now about 100 million rural surplus workers and 30 million surplus urban workers. The floating population seeks housing in shanty communities, make-shift housing, housing with relatives or friends, or employment-related housing. Migrant workers may be engaged in criminal activity. An estimated 30% of crimes in Beijing, 70% in Shanghai, and 80% in Guangdong province are committed by migrant workers. There are water and electricity shortages in migrant housing. Survey estimates indicate that 40% of migrant couples have 2 or more children. An estimated 1 million and more children are without any household registration. Problems arise in the provision of education for migrant children, particularly those in shanty schools. Migrant workers are often the victims of labor abuses or are denied health care services, old age support, and employment. It is expected that urban population will increase to 35% (450 million) by the year 2000 and 45% by 2010, from 29% in 1995. By 1994, China cities of all sizes covered 16.9% of land area and absorbed 39.9% of total population. Urban population produced 69.5% of gross national product, 72.3% of industrial output, 70.8% of retail trade, and 43.7% of the employed population.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

evaluation Migrant Workers residential mobility urban population China economics population demography Urban Spatial Distribution developing country Population Dynamics Developing Countries Asia Social Problems Migration, Internal Far East housing Eastern Asia Urbanization Residence Characteristics spatial distribution geography health care manpower labor migration Health Manpower social problem Article migration Geographic Factors Demographic Factors Critique Emigration and Immigration Evaluation Studies Economic Factors Transients and Migrants Human Resources Macroeconomic Factors employment Labor Force crime

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0030370530&partnerID=40&md5=37fefaa0b4ecc6548644d129dc960ea0

Cited by: 2
Original Language: English