Migrants’ Social Integration in Urban China

Yu ChenSchool of East Asian Studies

22/10/2014

Research Interests:

Urban development, Rural-to-Urban Migration, Labour and Housing markets

Rural-urban migration

Labour Market Housing

Migrants’ social integration in urban neighbourhoods

The largest migration wave in human history◦ Over 200 million migrants, 75% rural migrants

Questions◦ To what extent are migrants integrated in the local

urban society?◦ What are the determinants of their social integration?

Data◦ A survey of migrants from twelve urban

neighbourhoods in Shanghai in 2012

Methods◦ Structural equation model

A structural equation model

Social Integration

Participate in community

activities

Accustomed to social norms

Connected with local community

Demographic characteristics

Occupational status, income

Place of originSocial networks

Housing characteristics

Online social network sites and social integration

Rapid development of the internet and mobile technologies

New opportunities to obtain information and expand social networks

Theory: the digital divideQuestions

◦How do migrants use online social network sites in their daily life?

◦To what extent do their use of social network sites facilitate their social integration in a Chinese city?