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This Research Note employs age data to assess whether China’s internal migrants have become more settled since 2010. The aim is to answer the crucial question of whether recent hukou reform initiatives have achieved their goals of improving migrant settlement. We extend a method from existing research that examines two key aspects of settlement – family togetherness and long-term stay of migrants – through analyzing age profiles of migrant stock. Specifically, by scrutinizing age data from the 2010 and 2020 censuses, we evaluate whether the child and elderly dependents of migrants are more engaged in migration and whether migrants growing old can better remain in the destinations. The results show that from 2010 to 2020, the age distribution of migrants became slightly more even across all age groups, yet it was still concentrated in young adults – the overall shape remained largely unchanged. This indicates a small improvement in settlement, which is unsatisfactory given the various hukou reform initiatives aimed at substantially increasing settlement opportunities in the last 10 years. Much greater efforts on hukou reform and support for migrants are needed. Furthermore, our research highlights the utility of age data in assessing the actual extent of migrant settlement, as opposed to the exclusive focus on settlement intentions, which are common in existing studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some educators may see cooperative learning as a Western pedagogy that is difficult to use in Eastern countries with a Confucian Heritage, while others argue that the philosophy of Confucius parallels the elements of cooperative learning. This article reports the key findings of a 2-year longitudinal study that investigated the perceptions of cooperative learning and pupils' problems with cooperative learning in a Hong Kong primary school. A school-based staff development programme was conducted to help teachers prepare students for using cooperative learning in their classes. Pupils were interviewed at various stages of the study, and classroom observations were conducted to see how they worked in cooperative groups in the core subjects. The results showed that pupils' perceptions of cooperative learning were generally positive though they encountered some problems in working together. The results are discussed with reference to the influence of Confucian heritage culture on pupils' perceptions of CL, and recommendations are made for accommodating cooperative learning accordingly.

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2010.00987.x Byline: KAM WING CHAN (1) Keywords: global crisis; China; migrant labour; unemployment; world's factory; employment; hukou; urbanization; global supply chain; employment Abstract: Abstract This essay examines the impact of the global financial crisis on rural migrant labour in China, with a focus on unemployment. It illustrates the interaction of global and China-specific processes in the context of the worldwide recession. The essay first summarizes China's unique socio-economic system and the mechanisms that have created a system of 'rural migrant labour' and 'super-cheapened' it to help make China the 'world's factory'. The main part of the essay examines the unemployment situation for migrants in late 2008 and the first half of 2009, and the dislocations and problems migrant labourers are facing. The China story is complex but interesting, not only for its rather complicated lexicon and statistics that often confuse outside observers, but also for its distinctive system of exploiting the rural population and internal migrant labour. This system makes the impact of the global crisis on migrant labourers, which are at the bottom of the global supply chain, all the more apparent. The last part of this essay analyses recent governmental fiscal-stimulus policies and measures as well as their impact on rural migrant labour, making some broader observations and linking the crisis to China's model of development. Resume Ce texte examine l'impact de la crise financiere mondiale sur la main-d'OEuvre migrante rurale chinoise en s'interessant notamment au chomage. Il illustre l'interaction des processus planetaires et nationaux dans le cadre de la recession mondiale. Une synthese presente d'abord le regime socio-economique unique du pays, ainsi que les mecanismes qui ont cree un systeme de 'main-d'OEuvre migrante rurale' tout en 'hyper-depreciant' ces travailleurs afin de faire de la Chine 'l'usine du monde'. L'etude centrale porte sur le chomage des migrants entre la fin 2008 et le premier semestre 2009, ainsi que sur les bouleversements et problemes que rencontrent les ouvriers migrants. L'histoire chinoise est complexe mais interessante, non seulement a cause d'un vocabulaire et de statistiques compliques qui deroutent souvent les observateurs exterieurs, mais aussi par son systeme specifique d'exploitation de la population rurale et de la main-d'OEuvre migrante. Ce systeme renforce d'autant plus l'impact de la crise mondiale sur les ouvriers migrants, lesquels se trouvent tout en bas de la chaine d'approvisionnement mondial. En revenant sur les recentes politiques et mesures d'incitation fiscale du gouvernement et sur leurs consequences pour la main-d'OEuvre migrante rurale, la derniere partie elargit le champ des observations et relie la crise au modele de developpement chinois. Author Affiliation: (1)Department of Geography, University of Washington, USA Article note: Kam Wing Chan (kwchan@u.washington.edu), Department of Geography, University of Washington, Box 353550, Seattle 98195, USA.

A U.S. geographer and noted authority on China's urbanization seeks to explain the apparent paradox between reported recent shortages of migrant labor in cities in eastern China's export-oriented manufacturing belt and the abundant supply of labor in China's rural areas. He examines important socioeconomic contexts often overlooked in the debate over whether China has reached the Lewis turning point (when dual rural-urban labor markets begin to merge and a labor surplus economy is transformed into a full-employment economy), which make possible the existence of such shortages over the short term and in local areas. These include the special characteristics of China's export industrialization (e.g., preference for workers in the age category 16-30); its immense migrant labor force, constrained under the hukou system; the short-term impacts of China's economic stimulus program launched in early 2009 in the wake of the global economic crisis; and cycles in the global economy that support or impede export production. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O180, 0530, P200, R120. 4 figures, 1 table, 90 references. Key words: China, hukou, Lewis turning point, rural migrant labor, export industrialization, Pearl River Delta, global financial crisis, Asian tiger economies, wage pressure. DOI: 10.2747/1539-7216.51.4.513

Two noted academic specialists on labor economics and population statistics of China examine the impacts of the global economic crisis of 2008-2009 on the job security of urban workers, and the ensuing repercussions for the Chinese society and economy. More specifically, they probe and determine the magnitude of urban unemployment in China in 2008 and 2009 as it appears to be reported in different segments of the country's immense labor market. A particular focus of the paper is on differences in unemployment among two groups of workers (those with urban hukou vis-a-vis rural migrant workers) with significantly different sets of rights and privileges, as well as levels of job security. The authors also provide an estimate of the urban unemployment rate in 2009 that differs from the official rate. They argue that measures toward further integration of rural and urban labor markets and reducing natural unemployment are ultimately more beneficial than short-term interventions to adjust cyclical joblessness stemming from the global economic crisis and recession. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: E240, G010, J610, J690. 3 figures, 2 tables, 80 references. Key words: China, hukou, urban labor, labor market, migrant workers, labor statistics, unemployment, student employment. DOI: 10.2747/1539-7216.50.5.513

A noted American authority on urbanization in China presents a retrospective analysis of China's hukou (household registration) system on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its promulgation, reviewing the history of that system from a broad socio-political perspective. More specifically, the paper focuses on revealing trends in the development of the system over time and identifying many of its important ramifications for modern Chinese society, as well as on the impact of hukou on the country's industrialization, urbanization, and social and spatial stratification. The author argues that the hukou system now presents a major obstacle to China's quest to become a modem, first-world nation and global leader. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O180, 0530, P200, R120. 2 figures, 3 tables, 111 references. Key words: China, hukou, floating population, urbanization, industrialization, Shenzhen, labor migration, migrant workers, social stratification, command economy, nongzhuanfei.

This research note explains the important, somewhat unknown, hukou category: the collective hukou (jiti hukou, or JTHK) in urban China. We first briefly explain the hukou terminology and operations of the JTHK, then analyze its origin, highlighting its close relationship with the work unit (danwei) system in Mao's era. The note then examines different types of JTHK introduced since the early 1980s to address new questions created by the separation of the hukou and the danwei systems. Our discussion seeks to shed light on the complexities of the changes in the hukou system that functions and affects urban society, social geography, especially in relation to migrants who have college education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is woven into the fabric of territorial demarcation between rural and urban space, which shapes people's life chances. Grounded in the study of rural-urban and local/non-local inequalities, we explore the identity constructions of people-in-between – rural local villagers (commonly named "urban villagers") in chengzhongcun (villages-in-the-cities). Based on in-depth interviews and participant observations in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, we found stereotypes of rural local people's as ill-mannered and lazy; yet economically well-off. Women and men who considered themselves rural locals challenge the stereotype by drawing upon the gender- and class-appropriate understandings of their identities. Rural local women crafted a "model woman discourse" by emphasizing their traditional Chinese feminine traits, othering rural migrants for manipulating sex for upward mobility, and criticizing urban women for being too assertive in relation to men. Some rural local men, in contrast, created a subculture that defined their version of success; others embraced urban masculinity. In any case, the processes of identity construction often reinforce stereotypes based on rural/urban and local/non-local divide, class, and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two U.S.-based geographers use the most recent data to explain the complexity of China's provincial de jure and de facto population statistics and their relationship to computed inequality indices of per capita GDP. After reviewing the literature, the paper focuses on trends in regional inequality in China during the 1990s, and contends that the consensus view about the increase of inequality during the late 1990s is based on erroneous interpretation and faulty application of de jure provincial population series, which has resulted in significant overstatement of interprovincial inequality in 2000. The analysis presented in this paper shows that, alter a significant rise in the first half of the 1990s, China's regional economic disparities began to level off in the second half of the 1990s and have persisted at about the same level since then. The authors proffer explanations for the stability in regional inequality since 1995, especially stressing the role of long-distance migration. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: 131, 018, R12.6 figures, 10 tables, 105 references. Key words: China, regional inequality, interprovincial inequality, per capita GDP, population statistics, de-facto population, de jure population, migration, migrant labor, coefficient of variation.

Two U.S.-based economic geographers analyze recent changes in retailing activity in Beijing, focusing on changes in store ownership. More specifically, they investigate declines in state ownership in the retail sector since the early 1980s in conjunction with the rapid growth of the domestic private sector and foreign ownership. The paper outlines a new geography of successful (and not-so-successful) retailers that has emerged due to rationalization of the industry, marketization, globalization, as well as government policies at a variety of levels. Changes in store ownership provide insights into the complexity of China's transition, the evolving relations between state and capital, and the role of the local state in the country's economic reforms. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: D23, L20, L81, O18. 2 figures, 3 tables, 1 appendix, 114 references. Key words: China, Beijing, retailing, ownership structure, economic reform, transition, local government, chain stores, supermarkets, department stores, franchise outlets, cooperatives, FDI, WTO, Beijing Olympics.

A noted American authority on urbanization and the household registration system in China reviews and clarifies factors leading to misunderstanding and misconceptions regarding the number of inhabitants of China's major cities. Principal sources of confusion linked to reliance on official statistical sources are the multi-layered meanings of the term 'city' and, consequently, simultaneous publication and use of a multitude of official population statistics for the country's 'cities.' Other complicating factors analyzed by the author include the effects of the Chinese hukou (household registration) system and the rapid rate of urban growth and change over the last three decades. Systematic population and per capita GDP data for the years 2000 and 2005, all based on the multiple boundaries and systems for five major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen), are collected to illustrate both the countrywide situation and specific cases. Also included is a critique of several studies and popular accounts of Chinese cities to highlight misstatements and areas of misunderstanding based on inappropriate use of statistical data. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O18, O53, P20, R12. 2 figures, 6 tables, 130 references. Key words: China, cities, mega-cities, urban population statistics, hukou system, household registration, per capita GDP, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen.