Liveability and migration intention in Chinese resource-based economies: Findings from seven cities with potential for population shrinkage

《Liveability and migration intention in Chinese resource-based economies: Findings from seven cities with potential for population shrinkage》

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作者: Sylvia Y. He;Xueying Chen;Murat Es;Yuanyuan Guo;Ka Kit Sun;Zeli Lin

来源: CITIES,Vol.131,Issue1,Article 103961

语言: 英文

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作者单位: Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong;Department of Human Geography and Urban Planning, School of Geography and Planning, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China;Department of Urban and Rural Planning, School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China;Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong;Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong;Department of Human Geography and Urban Planning, School of Geography and Planning, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China;Department of Urban and Rural Planning, School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China;Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong

摘要: Resource-based economies often face the challenge of resource depletion and population shrinkage. After reaching a production peak, cities confront slower economic development and the inability to attract skilled workers, often leading many resource-based cities to experience urban shrinkage. This prompts questions regarding whether residents of resource-based cities are concerned about liveability indicators beyond job opportunities and whether residents would stay if a city were more liveable. This research has employed a mixed-methods approach to examine the relationship between urban liveability and migration intention. We collected data via a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews in seven resource-based cities in the Northeast and Northwest regions of China characterised by slow or negative population growth. Our mixed-methods approach identifies five main dimensions of factors affecting an individual's migration intention: job opportunities, employability and prospects with the mining industry; transport; public facilities; age, life cycle stage and family consideration; income and financial considerations. Our findings confirm that certain aspects of liveability significantly affect migration intention. Our subsequent analysis suggests that there is a skills gap between newly created employment opportunities and the labour force in resource-based cities. These issues call for government action to improve the liveability of resource-based cities and retain skilled workers.