Intraurban Settlement Patterns and Adaptation of China's Rural Migrants

本文研究的重点是中国城市环境下临时农村流动人口的定居模式和适应过程。具体而言，本研究将探讨移民住房安置的制度因素和个人层面的决定因素，以及居住模式对移民适应的影响。在一个正在从计划经济向市场经济过渡的迅速城市化的社会背景下，密切注意住房和土地市场在移民定居过程中的作用。数据主要来源于新的城市流动人口调查田野调查、北京和上海的深度访谈和重点观察，并辅以官方调查结果。该研究将使用几个参照组来衡量适应水平。在就业、收入、住房、城市生活和城市便利设施等指标上，将临时农村流动人口与来自城市的临时流动人口、永久流动人口以及城市居民进行比较。由于北京和上海在物质、文化和政策环境上存在显著差异，因此对两个城市进行比较可以确保揭示制度因素。通过将住房与适应的关系理论化，本研究有望对移民适应理论进行重要的拓展。住房被视为农村移民适应城市生活的环境，对其居住模式和结果进行评估，以反映他们的社会经济地位。该研究的主要贡献是在改变城市身份和隔离的领域。与中国研究人员和机构的合作是这项研究的重要组成部分。中国的临时农民工以许多不同的方式在城市定居并适应城市生活。本研究考察了中国独特的制度因素，如住房市场机制和城市福利制度，如何影响农民工的住房和城市生活选择。住房也被视为农村移民在城市进行调整的环境，对其居住模式进行评估以反映其社会经济地位。这项研究将住房和适应联系起来，有助于理解城市隔离和边缘化是如何发生的。虽然一些移民逐渐适应城市生活或选择保持与农村的联系，但其他人可能别无选择，只能成为空间隔离城市中新出现的穷人群体中的第一批。

The settlement patterns and adaptation process of temporary rural migrants in China's urban settings are the focus of this research. Specifically, the study will examine the institutional factors and individual-level determinants of migrant housing settlement and the impact of residential patterns on migrant adaptation. Close attention is paid to the role of housing and land markets in the process of migrant settlement, in the context of a rapidly urbanizing society undergoing transition from a planned to a market economy. Data are primarily drawn from new fieldwork of citywide migrant surveys, in-depth interviews and focused observation in Beijing and Shanghai, supplemented by official survey results. The study will use several reference groups in measuring levels of adaptation. Temporary rural migrants will be compared with temporary migrants from urban origin, and with permanent migrants as well as urban residents, along such indicators as employment, income, housing, urban living, and access to urban amenities. A comparison of the two cities ensures that institutional factors are uncovered as Beijing and Shanghai differ significantly in their physical, cultural and policy environment. By theorizing the relationship between housing and adaptation, this research promises an important extension to migrant adaptation theories. Housing is seen as an environment in which rural migrants make their adjustments to urban life, and residential patterns and outcomes are assessed to reflect their socioeconomic standing. The key contribution of the research is in the area of changing urban identity and segregation. Collaboration with Chinese researchers and institutions is an essential part of this research.China's temporary rural migrants settle and adapt to urban life in cities in many different ways. This study examines how the unique institutional factors in China, such as housing market mechanism and urban welfare system, influence migrants' choices of housing and urban living. Housing also is seen as an environment in which rural migrants make their adjustments in cities, and residential patterns are assessed to reflect their socioeconomic standing. Linking housing and adaptation, this research adds to the understanding of how urban segregation and marginalization occur. While some migrants gradually adjust to urban life or choose to preserve rural linkages, others may have no choice but to become the first of an emerging group of poor in spatially segregated cities.