Work

Urban-rural land demand trajectories of migrant workers across the life course

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: As urbanization advances in China, the dual household registration and land ownership systems create significant barriers to the permanent settlement of migrant workers, fostering a pattern of circular urban-rural migration. This study integrates life course theory with a resource endowment framework to analyze the dynamic land demand trajectories of migrant workers in Beijing. Using survey data and an instrumental variables (IV) approach, we find that migrants exhibit a distinct “pendulum-style” mobility, with their spatial focus shifting from urban to rural areas across the life course. The drivers of land demand are asymmetric: individual resources primarily determine urban housing demand, while household resources, particularly the homestead, anchor rural demand, functioning as a dynamic asset rather than a passive safety net. The influence of social resources is limited by institutional barriers. These findings reveal that migrants’ dual land demand is a rational adaptation to structural constraints. We conclude by recommending a dynamic, stage-specific land allocation mechanism to enhance land-use efficiency and support both sustainable urbanization and rural revitalization.

Source: Discover Cities

DOI: 10.1007/s44327-026-00186-3

Authors: Yumeng Li, Yujin Huang, Yanyu Zhou, Keke Hu, Yujia Shan

Institutions: Renmin University of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University

Language: English

Topic: China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China