The Development of Migrant Villages under China's Rapid Urbanization: Implications for Poverty and Slum Policies
Lead Research Organisation:
Cardiff University
Department Name: Cardiff School of Planning and Geography
Abstract
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Publications
Fulong Wu
(2012)
Handbook of Contemporary China
Li Z
(2013)
Residential Satisfaction in China's Informal Settlements: A Case Study of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou
in Urban Geography
Liu Y
(2017)
The effect of neighbourhood social ties on migrants' subjective wellbeing in Chinese cities
in Habitat International
Liu Y
(2016)
Changing neighbourhood cohesion under the impact of urban redevelopment: a case study of Guangzhou, China
in Urban Geography
Shen J
(2013)
Moving to the Suburbs: Demand-Side Driving Forces of Suburban Growth in China
in Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space
Wang Z
(2015)
Social Trust Between Rural Migrants and Urban Locals in China - Exploring the Effects of Residential Diversity and Neighbourhood Deprivation
in Population, Space and Place
Wang Z
(2015)
Intergroup neighbouring in urban China: Implications for the social integration of migrants
in Urban Studies
Webster C
(2016)
Informality, property rights, and poverty in China's "favelas"
in World Development
Wu F
(2012)
Handbook of contemporary China
| Description | We trace the source of informality in China's informal urban neighbourhoods and investigate the implication of chengzhongcun redevelopment policy, asking whether it will eliminate informality in the Chinese city and pointing to social and economic risks of so doing. We found that urban informality in China is created by the dual urban-rural land market and land management system and by under-investment in low-income formal housing. This is different from informal settlements elsewhere and has policy and management implications. Chengzhongcun redevelopment attempts to eliminate informality and to create more governable spaces; but since it fails to tackle the root demand for unregulated living and working space, it only leads to the replication of informality elsewhere. Analysis of three case villages, Tangjialing (Beijing), Gaojiabang (Shanghai), and Liede (Guangzhou), identified the positive functions of informal places. Wholesale redevelopment denies the city important incubator areas and increases the commute times of low-income workers. This finding, published in Urban Studies, attempts to relate the case of chengzhongcun to long-established research on informal settlements and recent research on informality and thus expands the scope of this literature on the Global South. Our quantitative analysis focuses on residential satisfaction and the contribution of property rights security to income and welfare. The project found that residential satisfaction of village dwellers is not necessarily low. Contrary to studies in other countries, most socioeconomic attributes are not statistically relevant to measures of satisfaction: migrants and low-income groups are not unhappier than the locals or middle- range income chengzhogcun dwellers. The most important factor associated with residential satisfaction is 'neighbourhood attachment'. The perception of being excluded and the lack of neighbourhood attachment, significantly reduces residential satisfaction. Migrants do not feel unhappier because they are not homeowners. This analysis, being published in Urban Geography, contradicts the current policy of demolition, which aims to improve the physical environment and homeownership in pursuit of a 'harmonious society'. Removing the social and institutional barriers to migrant integration is likely to be the more effective way of enhancing their sense of wellbeing. Linking this finding with data from our previous ESRC/DFID project, we find that while rural migrants have no strong sense of neighbourhood identity, they nevertheless express a relatively strong wish to remain in these places. Published in Urban Affairs Review, this analysis criticises the dominant demolition policy, which excludes migrants as stakeholders in the redevelopment negotiations. Taking the issue further, we use an index of social integration to show that while migrants are institutionally excluded, there are signs that they are becoming socially and economically integrated, measured by intensity of neighbourhood interaction (chapter in our edited book). The evolution of migrant integration is currently being studied further. Continuing analysis of the survey data includes an explicit test of the welfare implication of informality and property rights entitlements in a paper led by Webster (first draft completed); continuing theorization of urban informality in the Chinese context; and exploration of alternative models of informal neighbourhood redevelopment and regeneration by re-engineering property rights (from dissemination workshop transcripts). |
| Exploitation Route | 1. Trigger scholarly discussion and inform empirical research into the role of informal places in Chinese urbanisation and economic development 2. Be referenced in policy and academic discussions about urban village demolition and regeneration; Hukou (urban registration) reform, social-spatial segregation, social exclusion and migrant integration. 3. Be cited as a rare example of quantitative analysis of the impact of property rights and entitlements on income and poverty vulnerability in China. 4. Feature in practical professional discussions about alternative approaches to urban village redevelopment, including land re-adjustment approaches with various financing and organisational models and various degrees of locational entitlement redistribution to migrant renters and villager-developer/landlords. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | China has reached a profound historical milestone since 2011: more than half of its population now lives in cities and towns. Rapid urbanization has raised profound challenges. Having based this project on 'urban redevelopment and villages', we have been partnering with Chinese academic collaborators, engaging with Chinese policy makers and the planning profession, and helping China achieve a sustainable urban future. The impacts generated are instrumental in urban redevelopment planning and village improvement programmes, reframing debates on urban demolition, and enhancing research and professional capacities in the country. We adopted a strategy to maximize impacts through 'collaboration': extending research into policy actions and development plans; joint publication with policy users and academic partners in Chinese as well as international journals; involvement in local and national research and advisory projects; serving as expert advisor on local planning boards; publications in Chinese newspapers such as China Daily to reframe policy debates; and the provision of continuing professional development to Chinese planning professions. Through connecting research and policy advisory roles, we have enhanced research impacts. Our academic partners received national awards in papers competitions with enhanced capacities through funding from the China Natural Science Foundation. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Changes needed to build up rental market |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article published in China Daily, 2012-03-09 page 10 China Daily |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| URL | http://www.chinadailyapac.com/article/changes-needed-build-rental-market |
| Description | China Daily article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The article in China Daily has been timely in the period when Beijing imitated a large-scale urban renewal programme. Many other Chinese cities followed the similar approach. The article is widely circulated in the profession of city planning as well as the government of planning bureaux. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201712/12/WS5a2f13b6a3108bc8c6721953.html |
| Description | People-oriented urbanisation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | China Daily, 22 Feb 2013, p. 9 People-oriented urbanization |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Real needs of housing market |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Responding to the recent frenetic rise in housing prices, the central government in January announced the "new eight points of State Council regulation", showing its determination to cool down the real estate market... China Daily |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2011-03/02/content_12099376.htm |
| Description | Realty market faces dilemma |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A heated debate is raging on what should be the best policy for the housing sector in 2011 given the skyrocketing housing prices. The best strategy would be to avoid a hectic property boom, because the hope of reducing prices to solve the affordability problem is only an illusion.... China Daily |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2010-12/15/content_11703410.htm |
| Description | Resilient cities to cushion realty's fall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | After two years of tightening policies, the flow of speculative investment into China's property sector began slowing down, and house sales and housing prices dropped in major cities. So it is quite natural to ask whether we are seeing the deflation of the housing bubble. Pessimistic forecasters predict an imminent collapse of China's housing market. But such a scenario is not likely, for Chinese cities may be more resilient than they are thought to be... China Daily |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2012-01/11/content_14419397.htm |
| Description | Right to Housing: who can grant it |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | China Daily, 22 Oct 2012, p. 9 Right to housing: who can grant it? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Urbanization and its discontents |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | China is now entering an urban age. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's urban population reached 690 million in 2011, accounting for 51.27 percent of the total population. Now, more than half of China's population lives in cities and towns. The country has reached a profound historical milestone; it has bid farewell to traditional rural society and joined the urban world... China Daily |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2012-02/06/content_14540591.htm |
| Description | Will we demolish half of our cities? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Prof Fulong Wu debated with Mr. Chen Huai, director of a research institute affiliated to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. China Daily |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-08/16/content_11155848.htm |