RETURN MIGRATION IN CHINA:A Rural Development Opportunity?

CHINA TODAY

2 URBANIZATION

INDUSTRIALISATION(HEAVY & LIGHT)

1HEAVY INDUSTRY

PORT DEVELOPMENT

CITIES & PORTS RURAL

CHEAPLABOR

(MALES)

CHEAPLABOR

(MALES& FEMALES)

EXPORTS

EXPORTS

MODERNIZATION IN CHINA STAGES 1 & 2 COMBINED

THE RURAL CONTRIBUTION

=RURAL MIGRANT WORKERS

THE RURAL FACTOR

PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND

PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND...

WOMEN

ELDERY

CHILDREN

MODERNIZATION IN CHINA

INDUSTRIAL

TRANSFORMATION

* UPGRADING

* INNOVATION

* CONTINUED

URBANIZATION

RURAL

RATIONALIZATION

* STIMULATE

CONSUMPTION

* FARM

ENLARGEMENT

ETC

EXPORTS

CONSUMER GOODS

CHEAP LABOUR

STAGE 3---JUST BEGINNING?

RETURN MIGRANT WORKERS

RETURN MIGRANT LABOR

A Returnee is someone who returns from “away” and stays at home for one growing season (approximately 6-8 months)

WHAT CAN RURAL MIGRANT WORKERS DO?

RECESSION

In the recession, many return migrants find work locally or regionally

This represents a change in the geographical pattern of worker migration

Strategy One: Infrastructure

Strategy Two: Rural Consumption

WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL OF RETURN MIGRANT WORKERS TO STIMULATE LOCAL

GROWTH?

• Savings

• More open (worldly)

• Ability to innovate

Nb. Most effort (so far) goes into farming.

Strategy Three:MICRO-CREDIT PROGRAMS

• These programs work but not on a loan basis.

• Micro programs need client support.

RURAL CHINA in REVIEW

RURAL WOMEN

RURAL MEN

ROLE RELATIONS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN?

RESOURCE RESEVOIRS(RESEVOIR THEORY)

RESEVOIR AVAILABLE WATER

RURAL CHINA

AVAILABLE LABOUR

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.

The Rural Development Challenge

Rural Development

is a means to bring focus to the growth

of the rural economy for the betterment

of all rural society.

Rural Development

• R.D is NOT about sector development

(Not about agriculture, health, mining) ,but

about combining these sectors into a

coherent whole, though horizontal

integration of sectors.

Two Methods

• RURAL PROOFING of existing

development programs

• NEW Rural Development Programs

THREE OPPORTUNITIES

URBANISATION

ENERGY

FOOD

REGIONAL AND LOCAL SCALE

• PLACE-BASED POLICY

• DEVELOP OWN ASSETS

“SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL”

TWO LOCAL /REGIONAL APPROACHES

• SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS

• COMMUNITY FUTURES PROGRAM (REVOLVING LOANS)

is intentional, joins both macro and

micro together (both policies and

programs ), and is based on public

investments not subsidies and

supports.

Rural Development