China's internal migration, public policies, and economic growth

Abstract

Studying the internal migration of China since 1949, the overall effect of migration on economic performance has had a discernible impact both positive and negative at different times. There are two distinct aspects the actual migration patterns and their relative effects on the economy; and the domestic policies enacted by the PRC that directly prompted movements whether intentional or not. This thesis has led to the conclusion that it was the push and pulls aspect or opposing forces of domestic policies and the migration of the people and labor throughout this entire time period that helped shape economic successes and failures in China. This push and pull aspect is the push by the PRC to control (via domestic policies) migration patterns or urban growth and the pull (internal migration) of businesses and firms for relatively cheap labor that drive internal migration. This in my opinion is the most important aspect in this thesis. The impact that of circular cause and effect is, in turn, a crucial basis of either the economic successes or failures seen throughout the time periods examined in this thesis.