Determinants of Urban Population Growth in China

Urban population growth in China is driven by two types of migration: planned migration, which is controlled by the government, and unplanned migration. The main objectives of this study are to identify the determinants of urban population growth and the number of migrants by distinguishing between planned and unplanned migration. The results of the regression analyses show that population growth driven by unplanned migration is more closely linked to productivity and economic development, whereas planned migration is primarily influenced by the quality of life in cities. Geographic disparities in population growth are due to varying levels of population, foreign investment, and fiscal spending, which are themselves primarily linked to government policies and, more specifically, to discriminatory economic liberalization policies.