Understanding the relationships between the family structures and destinations of married migrants with children in China

Abstract

As China transforms and experiences massive rural-to-urban migration, the destination decisions and family structures of internal migrants have become increasingly diverse. This study investigates how the family structures of married migrants with children relate to the geography of their migration destinations. Our analysis reveals that the family structures of married migrant workers are systematically related to the geography of their migration destinations, with couple migrants relatively more likely to be located in mega cities while entire family migrants are more likely to locate in less developed regions. Furthermore, this study found that migrant workers with different migration paths have distinct preferences for their destinations. Migrant workers who initially migrate with their whole families tend to avoid economically developed areas, whereas those transitioning from lone to couple migration are more inclined to move to developed eastern regions and mega cities. Those finding highlights the importance of family dynamics and social factors in shaping migration decisions, providing a more comprehensive perspective on the factors that influence destination beyond purely economic considerations.