Migration Networks, Hukou, and Destination Choices in China

Zai Liang, University at Albany, State University of New York
Hideki Morooka, University at Albany, State University of New York

This study examines the destination selectivity patterns among interprovincial migrants in China. We are primarily interested in how migration networks and household registration status, hukou, affect migrant destination choices. We draw on data from the 1995 China 1% Population Sample Survey. Person-province (destination) data are constructed and a series of conditional logit models are estimated. We incorporate both individual- and province-level variables as well. Our preliminary findings reveal that female migrants and migrants who do not possess local hukou are more likely to rely on the developed migration networks, while younger migrants and those with higher level of educational attainment are generally less likely to depend on the networks.