Patterns of economic development and patterns of rural-urban migration in China

This paper examines three distinctive patterns of economic development in terms of their economic and migration outcomes in Zhejiang province, China. At the prefecture level, “trickle down” development works best in promoting rural development while reducing out-migration; but it requires a strong urban economy and sufficient investment. Rural household enterprise requires little government investment while boosting rural development; but it increases rural out-migration and, without a sound urban industrial base, is difficult to sustain in the long run. Rural collective industrialization achieves a better balance between rural development and out-migration. Future development should pay equal attention to rural development and urban expansion. The challenge should not be how to restrict but how to channel migration and capital flow.