Economic Motives and Barriers to Internal Migration1

2021 ◽  
pp. 187-246
Author(s):  
Robert E.B. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Income Levels ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
Urban Migrants ◽  
Potential Gain ◽  
Urban Income ◽  
Economic Motives

A literature review and fresh evidence are presented on economic motives for migration and barriers to moving. Given urban income opportunities, higher rural incomes are shown to deter decisions to move from countryside to town. Rural-urban migrants enjoy substantial gains on average, though selection into migration is estimated to be negative on unobserved traits and skills. Those who do not move forego substantial, potential gains. Ethnolinguistic minorities, those living at greater distances from cities, and the socially disadvantaged with lower levels of schooling forego the most. Thus, very real barriers to migrating arise for these populations, though it remains unclear to what extent the constraints are financial, discomfort with the prospects of urban life, or concern to be near kith and kin. However, the amount of potential gain to nonmigrants does not decline at higher income levels of countries, suggesting financial barriers may not be paramount.

scholarly journals Why bright city lights dazzle and illuminate: A cognitive science approach to urban promises

Urban Studies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 452-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Cardoso ◽  
Evert Meijers ◽  
Maarten van Ham ◽  
Martijn Burger ◽  
Duco de Vos
Keyword(s):  
Imperfect Information ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
Economic Prosperity ◽  
Urban Migrants ◽  
Urban Futures ◽  
The Many ◽  
Biases And Heuristics ◽  
Human Rationality

Despite the many uncertainties of life in cities, promises of economic prosperity, social mobility and happiness have fuelled the imagination of generations of urban migrants in search of a better life. Access to jobs, housing and amenities, and fewer restrictions of personal choices are some of the perceived advantages of cities, characterised here as ‘urban promises’. But while discourses celebrating the triumph of cities became increasingly common, urban rewards are not available everywhere and for everyone. Alongside opportunity, cities offer inequality, conflict and poor living conditions. Their narrative of promise has been persistent across different times and places, but the outcomes and experiences of urban life compare poorly with the overoptimistic expectations of many newcomers. And yet, millions still come and stay regardless of odds, raising the question why we have such positive and persistent expectations about cities. To examine this question, this paper considers the process of urban migration from the perspective of decision-making under uncertainty. It discusses how decisions and evaluations are based on imperfect information and offers a novel contribution by examining how the cognitive biases and heuristics which restrict human rationality shape our responses to urban promises. This approach may allow a better understanding of how people make decisions regarding urban migration, how they perceive their urban experiences and evaluate their life stories. We consider the prospects and limitations of the behavioural approach and discuss how biases favouring narratives of bright urban futures can be exploited by ‘triumphalist’ accounts of cities which neglect their embedded injustices.

scholarly journals Morphology of Urban Villages in China: A Case Study of Dayuan Village in Guangzhou

Urban Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Gao ◽  
Sina Shahab ◽  
Negar Ahmadpoor
Keyword(s):  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Urban System ◽  
Urban Morphology ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Urban Density ◽  
Urban Village ◽  
Urban Migrants ◽  
The Village ◽  
Urban Villages

Urban villages play an important role in providing affordable housing to urban migrants in Chinese cities. They are considered as supplementary to the dual rural-urban system in China. Of central importance to studying urban villages is how the morphology of these informal settlements affects urban life. It is essential for urban planners and designers to examine the morphology of urban villages. This paper, therefore, investigates the morphology of urban villages using the case study of Dayuan Village in Guangzhou, China. The morphology of this urban village is tested against four main elements of urban morphology: urban density, accessibility, functional mix, and urban interface. Our results revealed that the type of street within the urban village has considerable influence on accessibility, functional mix, and urban interface. Regarding urban density, our results show that buildings’ height is not influenced by the centrality of buildings nor land value; however, it is likely that it is affected by planning agreements between the village committee and the local government. Land coverage does not comply with the planning regulation for residential districts. Regarding accessibility analysis, the number of entrances to streets is influenced by the type of street under analysis. The distribution of different types of functional mix is also affected by the type of street within the urban village. The buildings with a mix of ‘live/visit’ are concentrated along the formal streets and primary inner streets. The mono-functional use of ‘live’ and the bi-functional mix of ‘live/work’ are mostly located in the secondary inner streets. Regarding urban interface, our results demonstrate that the formal streets have an interface with considerable porosity, and that this can contribute to the livelihood of the immediate area.

scholarly journals FROM NATIVE TO OUTLANDER: EXPLORING INFORMAL COMMUNITY IN CHENGZHONGCUN OF CHINA

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Ni PENG ◽  
Jin BAEK
Keyword(s):  
Urban Life ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Migrant Communities ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Urban Migrants ◽  
Chinese Migration ◽  
Collective Housing ◽  
The City ◽  
Destination City

In the existing research on Chinese migration, rural domestic Chinese migrants are often portrayed as a community of intruders with a detached culture who invade a host destination city. Usually, as a first step, they settle down in a so-called “Chengzhongcun” (literally a village encircled by the city boundaries, hereafter CZC), which is a kind of “urban village”, or an undeveloped part of a city that is overshadowed by the more developed areas. The present paper tries to give an image of the rural-to-urban migrants as a more vigorous mediator that forms their migration destination. The aims are the following: first, to achieve a detailed written analysis of an existing CZC community and its functioning as a mirror of the discriminating division between the rural and urban life in China. Secondly, by taking into account the experiences of migrant communities in their host cities, this paper seeks to highlight the migrants' emotional conflict and increasing loss of values that occurs in the migration process from the rural to the urban. Thirdly, the migrants' household survival strategies shall be explored. Finally, weaving these strands together, this paper presents a case study of a Tulou collective housing project in Guangzhou Province, China.

scholarly journals The barriers preventing pregnant women from accessing midwife-led antenatal care in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Clementina U. Nwankwo ◽  
Chidum E. Ezenwaka
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Cultural Sensitivity ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Safe Motherhood ◽  
Financial Barriers

Background: Nigeria records high maternal deaths despite available antenatal care services in the country. This review aims to synthesise literature on barriers affecting access to midwife-led antenatal care (ANC) among pregnant women in Nigeria.Methods: This is a systematic literature review and involved searching of studies done in Nigeria and published between 2007 and 2018. MEDLINE 1946 to present, CINAHL, JBI, and Pubmed Central were electronically searched to identify studies on barriers affecting access to midwife-led ANC among pregnant women in Nigeria. Reference lists were hand-searched, Grey literature; Google scholar, and NuSearch e-dissertation were also searched.  Citation chaining was also used. Twenty articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria while only seven out of the twenty were included in the review after quality appraisal.Results: The data synthesis of the literature review showed disproportionate absence of the use of midwife-led ANC in this population. Several barriers were identified in the various works reviewed. The identified core barriers are economic relating to issues like high costs of services, poverty, unemployment, financial barriers; personal barrier relates to lack of autonomy, greater convenience of using other services and personal preference, low maternal educational levels, lack of information on healthcare services/ignorance about required health services, maternal age, marital status, parity/number of children; environmental relates to distance to health facility, location of residence/rural dwellers, geographical location, lack of transportation, and farness of ANC service provider; and cultural barriers relates to husband’s permission, culture of patriarchy, traditional beliefs, cultural sensitivity, cultural perception of the role of TBAs, ethnicity.Conclusions: This review highlights the need to thoroughly explore and address context-based barriers affecting access to midwife-led ANC in order to make safe motherhood a reality in Nigeria. The principal solution to these identified barriers is antenatal education by midwives which will help to empower women thereby increasing their access to midwife-led ANC. \textit{Recommendations:} Government/Policy makers should allocate sufficient fund to maternal healthcare and health promotion. They should improve ANC use by making it available, accessible and affordable to all women in Nigeria irrespective of their area of residence. Also incorporate in the educational curriculum of the approved schools of midwifery in Nigeria the suggested midwifery strategies such as named midwife, team midwife, caseload midwifery.Midwives should avail themselves of update courses in midwifery; play the necessary roles of a midwife especially being women-centered; develop interest in conducting midwifery research and using the best available evidence in their practice.

Smart cities

IMP Journal ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 468-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Öberg ◽  
Gary Graham ◽  
Patrick Hennelly
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Stakeholder ◽  
Main Ideas ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

Purpose The smart city idea refers to new ways of organising city functions and urban life, which are believed to move production and consumption from global to local, manufacturing from competitive to collaborative, and business from a shareholder to a multiple-stakeholder point of view. Most previous research has focussed on the societal level of smart cities, while less seems to be known about the management of business as part of smart cities. The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on the state of the art of management research on smart cities. The following research question is addressed: How has previous research captured the management of organisations in smart cities? Design/methodology/approach A literature review using the search term “smart city/cities” in research on business, management, and operational management was conducted for the purpose of capturing previous research. Findings were coded based on main ideas, central concepts, and theories, thematic content of the articles related to the main ideas underpinning smart cities (digitalization, urbanisation, and sustainability as antecedents, and local, collaborative and multiple-stakeholder manufacturing as indicators), and units of analysis. Findings The paper points to how most studies on the management of organisations as part of smart cities focus on sustainability and how digitalisation enables new businesses. Collaborative efforts are emphasised and the theoretical framing is fragmented. Issues related to the organising of business is also not problematised and the business network approach could, as discussed in the paper, provide valuable insights related to the collaborative efforts of organisations and the multiple-stakeholder perspective. Originality/value The paper is the first to capture and present an overview of previous research on the management of business as part of smart cities. Research on smart cities has focussed on the policy and societal levels, and so far there is a lack of problematisation on how organisations may act, and potentially change their way of acting, should smart cities become a reality.

Aging in urban Japan – intergenerational reading in Tokyo

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inger Maleen Bachmann
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tokyo Metropolitan Area ◽  
Government Documents ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce a volunteer network from the Tokyo Metropolitan area that addresses the urge for senior citizens to stay mentally active and provide a possibility for them to participate in intergenerational contact as to feel included and useful to society. Design/methodology/approach – The research derives from literature review, local government documents and online presentation as well as an interview that has been conducted by the Tokyo senior information site. Findings – The REPRINTS (Research of Productivity by Intergenerational Sympathy) network in Tokyo is but one answer that combines a mentally challenging activity with intergenerational contact. The network presents an easy to reach and easy to implement diversion for schools to enable children to experience the traditional form of storytelling and help senior citizens to feel challenged and needed. Practical implications – Learning from the experience of the REPRINTS network could help to set up similar activities in other communities that deal with the same problems and are seeking ways to include senior citizens, help them stay active and useful for the community and encourage intergenerational contact. Originality/value – Japan is one of the forerunners when it comes to aging population. Yet, most research still focusses on the challenges, care and especially problems that occur in dying rural areas. This paper instead tries to take a more positive look to the future and concentrates on urban life and its context.

scholarly journals Cambridge and London in Wordsworth's 'Prelude'

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Greg Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
The Body ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
First Year ◽  
Organic Structure ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Changing Attitudes ◽  
Sense Of Touch ◽  
The City

<p>This thesis examines two sections of William Wordsworth’s autobiographical poem, The Prelude: Book 3, “Residence at Cambridge,” and Book 7, “Residence in London.” Books 3 and 7 are often read as interruptions in the poem’s narrative of psychological and artistic maturation. “Cambridge” and “London” are often read as impediments to the development of Wordsworth’s imagination, a development which is traditionally associated with transcendental epiphany in nature. This thesis offers a re-reading of the Cambridge and London books, emphasizing their affirmative role in the organic structure of the poem, and suggesting that these spaces allow Wordsworth to reflect positively on his imaginative development.  Chapter 1 considers the issues involved in a literature review. Chapter 2 looks at the representation of Wordsworth’s adjustment to Cambridge. Though the poet considers his imagination to have been dormant during his first year at university, Book 3 depicts a phase in which the mind is opening toward outside influences. In the sheltered groves and level fenland of Cambridge, Wordsworth finds an environment both protective and sufficiently strange to stimulate his sense of inner power. Chapter 3 is concerned with Wordsworth’s changing attitudes toward London. The poet was composing Book 7 over a period of time during which he made multiple trips to the city. While it is ostensibly the record of his very first residence in London, Book 7 has a palimpsestic quality, layering together different encounters with the city and exhibiting an increasingly affirmative vision of urban life. In particular, this chapter traces the influence of Charles Lamb on Wordsworth’s thinking about London. Chapter 4 considers the centrality of the body and the sense of touch in Wordsworth’s response to London. Touch in Book 7 is both a source of anxiety and the vehicle for Wordsworth’s understanding of the city, its influence on him and its significance for a poetics of belonging.</p>

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