Population Research

Balanced egional Development in China: Demographic and Economic Distribution Mismatch

Zhang Juwei, Cai Yifei

2013, 37(6): 3-16.

Asbtract ( )

PDF (939KB) ( )

Related Articles | Metrics

Unbalanced regional development can be examined by looking at the mismatch between demographic distribution and economic distribution across the regions Using the indicators measuring the degree of mismatch between demographic and economic distribution of the regions in China，this paper revisits the disparities and their changes in regional development，identifying a converging trend in the regional differences after 2003. By decomposing the regional differences into contributions of demographic and economic concentrations，this paper also explores the mechanisms of changing regional differences，and concludes that the changes of regional differences are more attributable to the effects of economic gathering than to those of demographic gathering Demographic concentration is playing an increasingly important role in reducing the regional differences with reducing barriers to population mobility The paper also discusses policy approaches addressing balanced regional development in China.

Settling Down or Lodging in Cities? A Comparative Study of Living Conditions among Internal Migrants in China

He Zhaohua, Yang Juhua

2013, 37(6): 17-34.

Asbtract ( )

PDF (406KB) ( )

Related Articles | Metrics

Drawing on data from the 2005 National One Percent Population Survey and utilizing multilevel modeling technique，this paper examines the living conditions among internal migrants in China. By highlighting the types and the locations of hukou，its primary goal is to disentangle institutional and structural barriers from individual demographic and socioeconomic effects. Analytical results indicate that controlling other factors does not overshadow the effect of migration status on the living conditions of migrants，and a significant disadvantage of rural- urban migrants is detected. It is clear that national policies that urge local governments to embrace rural- urban migrants in the agenda of housing welfare have not achieved desired outcomes and perhaps even exacerbated their poor living conditions by posing various restrictions to the housing market. Migration as an individual and /or household strategy，while enhancing employment opportunities and income，does not necessarily bring about a better living condition for rural- urban migrants. However，results do support the link between social mobility and spatial mobility in that urban- urban migrants are able to translate their socioeconomic achievements into a better living condition. Also，consistent with the interpretation of standard assimilation models，duration of residence at destination has a strong influence on the response variable，pointing to the diversity of experiences and contexts of arrival for different types of population.

Current Situation and Changing Patterns of Living Arrangement of Chinese Elderly: An Analysis Based on Data from the Fifth and Sixth Censuses of China

Sun Juanjuan

2013, 37(6): 35-42.

Asbtract ( )

PDF (213KB) ( )

Related Articles | Metrics

The sixth national population census in 2010 is an updated data resource for understanding the living arrangement of the Chinese older people. This paper studies the current situations and changing patterns of living arrangement of Chinese older people using data from the sixth and fifth national censuses and analyzes cohort changes of living arrangement of the older people. There are apparent developments in the trend of empty- nest families in China. Comparing to the older persons in living-alone families，those who live in the only- couple families have distinct features. Despite the provincial differences，the extended families with three generations living together is still the dominant living arrangement in China largely due to the past fertility levels of the current older people. The results suggest that the percentage of nuclear families will decrease，while the shares of empty- nest families and living-alone families will increase remarkably during the aging process of the population who were born in the 1950s and 1960s. It is imperative to develop social institutions and improve social services for older people to accommodate the changes of living arrangement in China.

The Basic Theory of Urbanization and Problems and Countermeasures of China's Urbanization

2013, 37(6): 43-51.

Asbtract ( )

PDF (203KB) ( )

Related Articles | Metrics

Abstract:： Urbanization is inevitable when a particular stage of social and economic development has reached. As a social and economic developmental process，urbanization has its own law. Following the law is the basic guarantee for promoting healthy urbanization. Although China's urbanization is
experiencing rapid development and has achieved great progress thanks to the promotion of every level of governments，there are still problems caused by the violation of the law. In spite of some innovations，many problems in China's urbanization are closely related to misunderstanding of the essence of
urbanization and its laws，ignoring of the successful experience of foreign urbanization，and the state domination over the urbanization process. In order to clarify the essence of urbanization，understand its law，and promote healthy urbanization in China，this essay elaborates on the mechanisms for the urbanization process. By comparing with successful experience of the developed countries，it identifies the main problems of China's urbanization since reform and opening up and provides some suggestions for the healthy urbanization in China according to its innate law.

Changes of the Spatial Distribution of Population in Beijing

2013, 37(6): 52-61.

Asbtract ( )

PDF (592KB) ( )

Related Articles | Metrics

Abstract: Population spatial distribution is an essential factor of the urban spatial structure and
whether the distribution is optimal is one important feature of the healthy development of urbanization.
For many years，Beijing has not only focused on controlling population size，but also paid attention to
optimizing the population spatial distribution. Based on the ArcGIS spatial analysis tools and the 3d，
4th，5th and 6th census data，simulation results showed that from 1982 to 2010，the population in Bei-
jing central area tended to be dispersed and reasonably distributed，while the urban function develop-
ment zone tended to be more concentrated and unbalancedly placed. The later tendency will result in
serious traffic congestion，strain the education and health care resources and decrease the environment
quality. If efficient measures were not taken，the harmonious development and world city building
process of Beijing would be hampered. Optimizing the population spatial distribution of Beijing requires
comprehensive measures.

Patterns and Characteristics of Childrearing of Urban and ural Families in Beijing

2013, 37(6): 62-76.

Asbtract ( )

PDF (279KB) ( )

Related Articles | Metrics

Abstract: Population spatial distribution is an essential factor of the urban spatial structure and whether the distribution is optimal is one important feature of the healthy development of urbanization.For many years，Beijing has not only focused on controlling population size，but also paid attention to
optimizing the population spatial distribution. Based on the ArcGIS spatial analysis tools and the 3d，4th，5th and 6th census data，simulation results showed that from 1982 to 2010，the population in Bei jing central area tended to be dispersed and reasonably distributed，while the urban function develop-
ment zone tended to be more concentrated and unbalancedly placed. The later tendency will result in serious traffic congestion，strain the education and health care resources and decrease the environment quality. If efficient measures were not taken，the harmonious development and world city building
process of Beijing would be hampered. Optimizing the population spatial distribution of Beijing requires comprehensive measures.

Choice for China's Population Policy: Lessons from East Asian Region

Tang Mengjun

2013, 37(6): 77-90.

Asbtract ( )

PDF (543KB) ( )

Related Articles | Metrics

It is no doubt that low fertility is now shaping China's population dynamics，and China's
population policy is at a crossroad. Singapore，Japan，Korea and Taiwan are quite similar to China in
terms of cultural traditions and policy trajectory，and all choose pro-natal policies，yet the results were
not satisfactory. The procedures of their policy transition can provide reference for China's policy op-
tions. This paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the motivation，process and features of policy change
in these countries /regions，explains the influencing factors，and compares the characteristics and out-
comes of population policy before and after the change. On such a basis，this paper recommends Chi-
na to adopt gradual policy transition and reform the supplementary policies in line with population con-
trol in order to maintain suitable fertility level.

A Comparative Study of "BRICS" Demographic Transition and Population Efficiency

Yan Yueping, Lv Zhaohe

2013, 37(6): 91-103.

Asbtract ( )

PDF (276KB) ( )

Related Articles | Metrics

There is much difference between historical background，causation and process of the demographic transition in B ICS countries and their European counterparts. Especially， the differentiation between the five countries in population efficiency during the demographic transition makes the comparative study of the five countries demographic transition far more significant than the implication of a mere demographic examination. The article examines the process and changes of demographic transition in the B ICS countries，especially the formation of the population trap under the context of straining relationship between population and resources ，and the process，levels and characteristics of demographic transition in a comparative perspective. Based on current status of population changes and dynamic trends in the five countries，demographic factors of international co mpetitive power of the five
countries are discussed. The article maintains that enhancing and keeping China's future international competitive power depends on reversing the trap of population low efficiency ，having thorough top-level design with national strategic height，and achieving the full right for people of democratic reproductive decision- making.

The Super-ministry eform and the New Thinking on the Family Planning Work

Yao Yixian, Su Jianming, Xia Ming

2013, 37(6): 104-109.

Asbtract ( )

PDF (177KB) ( )

Related Articles | Metrics

Situated in the context of the institutional reform and functional transformation of the State Council，this paper analyzes issues on current fertility policy from a new perspective including ( 1) public questioning of the risk and fairness of the current family planning policy，( 2) an underdeveloped population information system which lags behind the development and work needs，( 3) misallocation of the resources of family planning public service and public welfare system，and ( 4) the persistent rule by man feature，the strong social constrain，and path dependence of the family planning management. egarding these issues，this paper points out the new focuses of the family planning work in the current and next period，which include promoting the fairness of fertility policy and equalizing public services，building comprehensive population information system，and promoting the rule of law in family planning work. This paper also proposes three fundamental principles to facilitate the scientific development of the family planning work: guided by the demand of the people，based on overall coordination，and driven by management innovation.

Table of Content