| By: |
Qu, Zhaopeng (Frank) (Beijing Normal University);
Zhao, Zhong (Renmin University of China) |
| Abstract: |
The paper studies the dynamic change of the migrant labor market in China from
2002 to 2007 using two comparable data sets. Our focus is on the rural-urban
migration decision, the wage structure of migrants, the urban labor market
segmentation between migrants and urban natives, and the changes of these
aspects from 2002 to 2007. We find that prior migration experience is a key
factor for the migration decision of rural household members, and its
importance keeps increasing from 2002 to 2007. Our results show that there is
a significant increase in wages among both migrants and urban natives over
this 5-year period, but migrants have enjoyed faster wage growth, and most of
the increase of wages among migrants can be attributed to the increase of
returns to their characteristics. We also find evidence suggesting convergence
of urban labor markets for migrants and for urban natives during this 5-year
period. |
| Keywords: |
rural-urban migration, labor market, wage structure, migration decision, segmentation, China |
| JEL: |
J21 J61 O15 |
| Date: |
2011–01 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp5421&r=cna |