Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on China's Migrant Workers: A Survey of 2,700 in 2009

Abstract

An Australian geographer examines the effects of the global financial crisis on China's migrant workers, based on a recent survey of over 2,700 such workers conducted during January-February 2009. The author focuses on the number of migrant workers returning to their home villages for the annual New Year holiday period, the types of workers that were laid off, options available to such workers upon losing employment, and the reasons underlying their subsequent moves. Implications of the findings for labor policy in China are briefly outlined and several directions for future research identified. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: E240, G010, J610, J690. 7 tables, 68 references.

Keywords:

• China
• global financial crisis
• migrant workers
• unemployment
• globalization
• rural development
• push factors
• manufacturing exports
• hukou
• migration networks
• remittances
• Chinese New Year
• return migration