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Self-employment and intention of permanent urban settlement: Evidence from a survey of migrants in China’s four major urbanising areas

Author

Listed:
  • Guangzhong Cao

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, China)

  • Ming Li

    (Renmin University of China, China)

  • Yan Ma

    (National Caijing Magazine Xinhua News Agency, China)

  • Ran Tao

    (Renmin University of China, China)

Abstract
Drawing on a survey of migrants in 12 cities across four major urbanising areas in China, this paper analyses rural migrants’ intention for permanent urban settlement. We focus on one sizeable but often overlooked group of rural migrants, that is, the self-employed. Our hypothesis is that the self-employed migrants tend to have stronger intention for permanent urban settlement since they are usually more ingrained in urban economy and society. The empirical evidence supports our hypothesis. Moreover, the social and economic choices made by the self-employed migrants are consistent with their expressed intentions: they are more likely to migrate with spouses and to live with their family members, more likely to have a plan for house purchase in cities; they are also more integrated into urban society in terms of learning local dialects and making friends with local permanent residents.

Suggested Citation

  • Guangzhong Cao & Ming Li & Yan Ma & Ran Tao, 2015. "Self-employment and intention of permanent urban settlement: Evidence from a survey of migrants in China’s four major urbanising areas," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(4), pages 639-664, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:52:y:2015:i:4:p:639-664
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098014529346
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Shukui Tan & Yanan Li & Yan Song & Xiang Luo & Min Zhou & Lu Zhang & Bing Kuang, 2017. "Influence factors on settlement intention for floating population in urban area: a China study," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 147-176, January.
    3. Christine Wen & Jeremy L. Wallace, 2019. "Toward Human-Centered Urbanization? Housing Ownership and Access to Social Insurance Among Migrant Households in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-14, June.

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