CS: Rural to Urban Migration in China (Xinjiang to Shenzen) Flashcards
1
Q
General
A
- since 1990: 200M moved from R-U areas (large scale)
- experiences largest internal M as R incomes < 40% of U incomes
- Guangdong 1 of largest inflows (net M of 5M)
2
Q
What is the Chinese Hukou system?
A
- controls pop movement
- registers pop by providing a registration card: shows where they have a right to live + work
- ppl w non-agri hukou could take waged work + may get permission to transfer
- ppl w agri. hukou had to stay in villages + work on land where they receive grain
- can be U or R: determines where they have access to social services (hospitals + school)
3
Q
How did the Chinese Hukou system impact internal migration?
A
- limited M + created divide
- illegal M almost impossible: food rationed, those w U hukou were entitled to grain tickets
- as labour demand in U areas inc, restrictions on M relaxed
- large scale R-U M: but must apply + pay for temporary residence permit
4
Q
What are the push factors from Xinjiang?
A
-
rugged + Mts terrain (e.g. Kunlun Mt runs through regions)
- affects assessability, transport + land use
- influences local climate patterns
-
extreme T°Cs, w hot summers + cold winters
- T°Cs can exceed 40°C, esp. at lower elevations + desert areas
- T°Cs drop below freezing (-4°C), esp. at higher elevations: affects daily life, agri + infrastructure (ground freezes so crops can’t grow)
- T°C variations influence agri. practices, water availability + human settlement patterns
- some parts remote and isolated: transport + communication challenging
- affects eco dev., access to services + emergency response abilities - water scarce: region depends on glacial meltwater from Mts
- sig. portion is arid + semiarid desert landscapes
5
Q
What are the pull factors to Shenzhen?
A
- nicknamed ‘Silicon Valley of China’
- attracts graduates w ICT related degrees
- large MNCs located here (inc. Ten Cent): creates well paid employment opps.
- avg. salary =£994/yr, Xinjiang = £512/yr
-
30min drive from HK (another major financial hub)
- 1 of wealthiest cities so has access to larger trading markets
- city heavily invested in infra dev., inc modern transport networks, high-speed rail connections + a well dev U envi.
- enhanced QOL for residents + contributes to city’s appeal
- several Uni’s + research institutions, (e.g. the Southern Uni of Science + Tech): contributes to city’s rep as an educational hub
6
Q
What are the impacts of migration on Shenzhen (destination U area)?
A
- many move for education (e.g. Southern Uni of Science + Tech)
- creates well-educated pop to work high-skilled jobs (braingain) in tech industry
- 2022: 155,300 students studying in colleges + uni’s
- state needed to construct huge N°s of affordable housing for next 20-30yrs
- gov unable to build fast/cheaply enough to accommodate masses arriving
- inc housing demand: inc property prices: squatter settlements rise
-
larger workforce so better eco + productivity
- 2021: earned $475.3B
- poor QOL for some workers: some companies require working additional hrs for free
-
major manufacturing hub + industrial activities contribute to pollution
- emissions from factories + industrial processes + inc number of vehicles (congestion)
7
Q
What are the impacts of migration on Xinjiang (Source R area)?
A
- remittances to countryside: used to improve standards of living for families + improve farming methods (buying better seeds/fertilisers)
-
reverse brain dead: skilled bring back knowledge + enhanced human capital
- updated modern farming techniques + tech: huge oversupply of workers
- M’s made unemployed/underemployed: have insufficient incomes so migrate to cities
-
18.3M children left behind by migrating parents
- 320,000 currently raised by grandparents or family friends: devote less love (some don’t attend school)
8
Q
Evaluation
A
- large scale so larger impact globally
- causes huge impacts on destination area: may not be reversible as a result
