The focus of our research in this area is on social inclusion of rural-urban migrant populations (voluntary or involuntary) and methods that enhance their wellbeing. Our current research projects on migration and urbanisation include:
- governance of migrant-concentrated communities in Chinese cities
- wellbeing and subjective wellbeing of migrant children
- rural-urban linkage
- urban and development policies and their impact on migration
Our researchers are also beginning to explore work on Chinese migrants in Australia.
Our research on China and other international projects means we have the capacity and rich experience to carry out comparative studies.
Why is this research important?
The experience of China is particularly relevant to the world given the scale of the challenges. In some Chinese cities, migrant populations can represent up to 50% of the total population. Our research looks to answer questions that these rural and urban societies and governments face, including:
- How have they coped so far?
- Are the current situations sustainable?
- How can we improve the livelihoods of the people affected?
- How can we improve governance to minimise vulnerability?
The answers to these questions can be relevant to many parts of the world; our research outputs would be of interest to any academic researchers, policy makers or students from developing countries trying to understand China’s development, and learn from its practices (good or bad).
Migration in China is also no longer limited to migrant labour. The governing approach for cities has changed. There are various urban and local development initiatives that are closely linked to migration and urbanisation. Some of the initiatives are local, innovative and unconventional. As a result, it is important to understand the relationship between policies at different levels, and examine how local strategies cope with the pressure (or take advantage of) migration for development. It is equally important to understand how these new initiatives have contributed or affected individual, household and social wellbeing.