Hukou status and social exclusion of rural–urban migrants in transitional China

Abstract

The hukou system has long been regarded as the root cause of social exclusion of rural–urban migrants in China, so the abolition of this system is considered the best way to bridge the rural–urban division. This article empirically analyses the extent of social exclusion of rural–urban migrants in a transitional period from three dimensions: geographical, opportunity and psychological. It argues that the hukou status is playing a declining role in the social exclusion of rural–urban migrants, and the market competition appears to play a more important role in social exclusion. This article suggests taking a ‘beyond hukou’ perspective to re-examine the social exclusion of rural–urban migrants in urban China.