Impact of Urban-Rural Return Migration on Rural Development in China – with Implications for Vietnam

Duration: 04/14 - 04/17

Urban migration in China is not only having a dramatic impact on its cities, but also reconfiguring the social and economic landscape of rural communities. Impact of Urban-Rural Return Migration on Rural Development in China – with Implications for Vietnam explores the potential benefits that migration can bring to poor and marginalised residents, with a particular focus on non-migrants.

Drawing on a survey of 2,100 households across China and 270 households in Vietnam, as well as in-depth interviews of returnees, the project will gather first-hand research on return migration and the ways this process can support rural communities in developing countries. If well managed, the inflow of skills and capital that returnees bring can also create opportunities for non-migrants, offering them the chance of inclusion in future development.

The findings will be invaluable for policy makers, authorities and academics working on rural development in China, as well as other Asia countries experiencing similar processes. Its insights will be of particular relevance to Vietnam, where growing inequalities are also evident in rural areas as the country undergoes rapid urbanisation.

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