Step out of the binary structure: Rural migrants, urbanization and the construction of new rural areas

Author: Deng Hongxun, Lu Baifu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: This book includes the latest research findings of the China Rural Labor Resource Development Research Association since 2004, under the guidance of the Development Research Center of the State Council. Its key characteristics are:
First, guided by the Scientific Outlook on Development, it focuses on China's transition out of the dual structure, a core issue affecting the overall socio-economic structure, system, development strategy, and fundamental direction. Combining practical progress, it addresses two critical aspects: promoting the transfer of surplus rural labor to non-agricultural industries and urban areas during industrialization, and strengthening the construction of a new socialist countryside. The book conducts two major research projects: Breaking the Dual Structure: Institutional Innovation in Rural Labor Transfer and Urbanization and Breaking the Dual Structure: New Socialist Countryside Construction and Rural Migrant Workers, Urbanization. It offers a new perspective on China's dual socio-economic characteristics, identifies the widening of the urban-rural dual structure during urbanization, highlights the lack of rural and farmer rights within the institutional framework of urban-rural development, and points out the emergence of a new dual structure phenomenon in some regions' treatment of migrant workers. It provides an assessment of the situation of surplus rural labor transfer, clarifies future strategic goals, institutional innovation approaches, and policies to protect the employment rights of farmers migrating to cities and facilitate their urbanization. The book analyzes the historical context, overall development strategy, and the meaning of classified guidance in China's new socialist countryside construction, as well as its historical tasks, goals, priorities, service systems, and related policies during the transformation of the dual structure.
Second, it adheres to a combination of strategic research, policy, and institutional studies, demonstrating strong practical relevance. Experts and scholars from both national and local levels, leaders and practitioners long engaged in rural work or macroeconomic research, collaborate to conduct major research projects while investigating pressing and challenging issues such as food security, agricultural cooperation legislation, vocational education and training, township institutional reform, and the construction of a service-oriented government. Through continuous and in-depth field investigations in urban and rural areas, or based on long-term practical experience in a specific region, the research identifies problems, offers innovative insights, and proposes actionable policy recommendations. Many reports have generated widespread social response and have played a beneficial role in leadership decision-making and policy formulation.