How Family Living Arrangements and Migration Distances Shape the Settlement Intentions of Rural Migrant Workers in China

Rural migrant workers and their families will decide the future of China’s urbanization. Using data from the “China Migrants Dynamic Survey and Hundreds of Villages Investigation” carried out in 2018, we examine whether and how family living arrangements and migration distances shape rural migrant workers’ settlement intentions in urban areas. In general, rural migrant workers’ settlement intention is shown to be weak. However, individuals with children are more likely to have a stronger intention to settle permanently in urban areas. Among geographical factors, geospatial distance exerts a negative influence on migrant parents’ settlement intention when the interaction effect of family living arrangements and migration distances is considered. Migrant families are increasingly concentrated in cities near their hometowns with a low entry barrier that allows them to gain access to better amenities. Socio-economic factors, especially disposable income, human resources, and housing conditions, play significant roles in migrant parents’ settlement intention. The age and hometown region of migrant parents are also closely related to their intentions to settle in urban areas. Potential channels for the management of urbanization policy are also explored.