POPULATION MIGRATION, REGIONAL ECONOMIC-GROWTH AND INCOME DETERMINATION - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF DONGGUAN AND MEIZHOU, CHINA

Population migration, regional economic growth and income determinatio n in China are all popular research topics, In a country with a vast g eographical extent and varied geographical heritage, and with the huko u or household registration system still playing an important part in structuring a person's life-chances, these three variables are closely intertwined, The present study attempts to link the three together, I t draws on data from a household survey conducted in the cities of Don gguan and Meizhou, both of Guangdong province, The former has experien ced highly rapid economic growth since 1978 because of its proximity t o Hong Kong, whereas the latter has suffered from its relative geograp hical remoteness, A series of covariance tests arranged in a hierarchi cal manner confirms the hypothesis that a given set of income determin ants has different effects in different geographical and migratory-sta tus settings, While income generally has a curvilinear relationship wi th age, this is not the case for the Meizhou permanent migrants, The e ffect of education on income, after controlling for occupation and oth er variables, also shows systematic variations with level of economic development, In Meizhou, where the degree of market penetration is low and where formal credentials are of paramount importance, holding a h igher education diploma almost guarantees a higher income, ceteris par ibus; but in Dongguan education only brings about higher income throug h its effects on occupation type, The temporary migrants who do not po ssess permanent residential status constitute an obvious disadvantaged group, For this group, discrimination prevails, regardless of the nat ure of the work unit's ownership type.