The Chinese Internal Migration Model: A New Transition

In China, the past 30 years have been characterized by economic growth and rapid development, making China an important player in the international market. This extraordinary progress might not have been possible without the cheap Labor that rural China provides in the form of migrant workers. Today, millions of rural people are on the move across the country in search of work and money. The underdeveloped countryside cannot provide the income needed to support its large rural population, and in wages, social services and welfare, education and employment. Those elements to drive a large surplus of rural labor to the cities, and formation of large-scale urbanization in China. The population characteristics of migration are determined not only by a personal decision, but also influenced by relevant policies. This thesis will discuss the demographic characteristics and related policies of internal migration from the macro perspective and the factors determine the individual migration decisions from a micro perspective.