Strategic thinking regarding the immigration issue in Guangdong province
Zheng, X.
Chinese Journal of Population Science 9(4): 299-306
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1044-8403 PMID: 12294139 Document Number: 277943
This study examined migration patterns in Guangdong Province, China during 1990-95. Data were obtained from the 1% Population Sampling Survey in 1995. Findings indicate that Guangdong received 1.9 million migrants, or 2.76% of total provincial population, from other parts of China during 1990-95. The author considers migration statistics to be undercounts. It is argued that 26.6% of the total increase in provincial population during 1985-95 was due to migration, based on census figures. The government has a migration policy. Migration is attributed to overpopulation and economic factors. The gross national product (GNP) in Guangdong increased 1.4 times since 1990, to 545 billion Yuan, or 10% of China's total GNP. The average growth rate of GNP for 5 years was 19.1%. It was 6.5% higher than rates in the national plan for 1986-90. The GNP per capita, in 1995, was 8020 Yuan. Most migrants came from economically backward regions, such as Hunan, Jiangxi, Guanxi, and Sichuan provinces (76.5%). 12.2% came from Hunan, Hubei, and Guizhou provinces. In 1994, GNP per capita in eastern China was 2.21 times as high as in central China, and 3.23 times as high as in western China. Eastern China has greater productivity. 80.4% of migrants were aged 15-39 years. Over 80% had a middle school graduation or lower educational status. 90% of migrants were blue-collar workers. 14.4% of industry and service workers were skilled workers. Guangdong is shifting to a market orientation and intensive farming. Long-term development will need investment in education in the sciences, technology, and engineering.