The migration destination of rural labor and nearby urbanization of small cities: a case study of Henan province, China

Abstract

The purpose of the research described in this article is to explore the possibility of floating population in central China migrate over short distances and to be residents in small cities. Based on the questionnaire survey of the rural areas in Henan Province, the article analyzes the characteristics of migration destinations, and the influencing factors of their choices to flow into small cities from the characteristics of the floating population’s individuals, families, and outflow areas using a multinomial logistic regression analysis method. The results show that: (1) The proportion of migrant workers flowing into small cities is 44.8% of the entire sample. Compared to other migration destinations, small cities are the most destined, not large or super-sized cities. (2) The migrant workers whose households are in the period of family expansion and stability are more likely to migrate over short distances (namely migrate into small cities); the female migrant workers with the traditional family role of caring for the elderly and children are more likely to migrate over short distances; meanwhile, the migrant workers are more likely to migrate over short distances from the regions are those mainly areas with specialized agriculture, or the suburban areas of cities where there are more nonagricultural jobs.