Sydney China Seminars| In person event only
The Role of Public Rental Housing Beyond Hukou Welfare: Fostering Family Lives of Rural Migrants in Chongqing, China
The emergence of Public Rental Housing (PRH) in Chongqing is a significant development in China's urban housing policy. The paper explores the role of PRH in facilitating the social and economic integration of rural migrants, also known as 'new urban citizens'. It argues that PRH goes beyond its primary role as a welfare provision, traditionally associated with the urban hukou system, by promoting family support, economic stability, and social harmony.
Through empirical investigation, the study examines how PRH fulfils the urban welfare roles, surpasses the benefits of the urban hukou, and impacts the familial, social, and economic aspects of rural migrants' lives. The paper identifies four policy keystones crucial to the effectiveness of PRH: affordable rents, secure tenures, inclusive eligibility criteria, and access to public education. These keystones play a vital role in providing "new citizens" with urban welfare that helps to improve family well-being and foster family lives.
The finding presents evidence of the practical impacts of the PRH policy. It outlines the key policy factors that are essential for the successful social integration and economic establishment of rural migrants. It deepens our understanding of the urban life of rural migrants in contemporary China, highlighting the importance of four policy aspects in the migration experience. The conclusion emphasises the need for more inclusive urban housing initiatives to guide effective policy-making for sustainable urbanisation in China.
About the speaker
Dr Weijie Hu is a Lecturer in Architecture at Swinburne University of Technology and Co-Editor of Journal of Architecture. His research focuses on urbanisation, social housing, and land politics in China. He has published in top journals such as Urban Geography, Journal of Urban Affairs, City, and Town Planning Review. His design work on housing was exhibited at Melbourne Design Week in 2022.
