Half-Familization of Migration in China in the Era of Geographic Mobility

In the process of large-scale migration in recent China, many migrants are unable to bring core family members along due to structural and institutional constraints in receiving societies, which has yielded profound effects on the family in both receiving and origin societies. Drawing on nationally representative and large-scale data collected in 2012, this paper examines the dynamics of family migration in China. While further analysis is still ongoing, preliminary analytical results highlight a pattern of half-familization of migration such that migrants tend to move with some, but not all of core families member (e.g., migrants may move by himself, with only spouse or only children, or with spouse and some children). The largest barriers for family reunion lay in (1) the hukou institution that divides individuals into peasants and urbanites, and insiders and outsiders, (2) local protections in the labor market, and (3) local residents’ exclusive attitudes. The half-familization of migration would have implications for the wellbeing of family members, and challenges the notion that migration would necessary improve the wellbeing of those involved. National- and local-level policies (e.g., education, housing, and social security) should be reformulated to facilitate the process of family reunion for those who desire to do so.