Emigration Dynamism and Social Transformation in Northeast China 2005

Overview

This ethnographic study examined how the dynamics of labour emigration from northeast China is produced and changed through the interplay between the state, the labour market, and individuals/households. It looked at three inter-related issues: 1) the role of migration agents, who have been widely recognised as key facilitators of migration flows, but whose actions had been subject to very limited theoretical conceptualisation; 2) the exit controls developed by the state that shape migration flows; and 3) the links between out-migration and dramatic social transformation in regions, particularly the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, which has led to massive numbers of redundancies and intensified social inequality. In doing so, the research aimed to help the Chinese government to utilise labour emigration for development and to present new evidence that would help enhance meaningful dialogue in the context of the World Trade Organization’s GATS Mode 4 negotiations.

Topics

Labour MarketsPolicies

Regions

Asia

Outputs

PB-2005-003-China_Emigration_Dynamism
Project briefing