Population Migration and Health Stratification in Urban China

This study examines the health stratification in urban China in light of the rapid population migration under current institutional arrangement. We use data from a nationally representative sample to compare the health disparities between migrants and urban natives in terms of health status, health need and accessible resources. A series of health measures, including both subjective reports and objective biometrics of different dimensions, are used in our health comparison to give a comprehensive picture of the health disparities among the urban residents. Migrants at different socioeconomic ladders, from rural and urban areas, are compared with urban natives of comparable socioeconomic statuses to decompose the health impacts from institutional and socioeconomic factors. The empirical finding from this study is expected to shed light on the pattern of health disparities in urban China and the related determinants from institutional and socioeconomic aspects.