By Wang Ruimin, Institute of Market Economy, DRC

Research Report, No.107, 2021 (Total 6172) 2021-4-30

Abstract: The over-urbanization in Latin America is due to the lack of support by manufacturing industry during its urban development drive which has led to excessive inflow of massive migrants entering cities and most of them get employment in private economic sectors and live in urban slums. Different from Latin America, China, with booming manufacturing industry, is mainly faced with the challenge from insufficient number of urban residents. The above-mentioned two cases both reveal the relatively low quality of urbanization, which are essentially related to the insufficient provision of urban infrastructure facilities and public services for migrant population. In light of the policy concepts concerning urbanization, this paper offers the following policy options. Work needs to be done to give full play to the positive role of migrant population from rural areas and to take lesson from the social unrest caused by the removal of people living in slums by authorities in Latin America; efforts need to focus on improving the inclusiveness and sustainability of cities; the improper management of houses including those in villages adjacent to the city and rental houses in suburban areas needs to be fleshed out; the development of rental housing needs to be accelerated and the equal rights and interests of migrant workers’ children to go to school need to be ensured; the coverage of urban public services needs to be expanded in a phased-in manner so as to push ahead with high-quality urbanization.

Keywords: over-urbanization, insufficient number of urban residents, migrant rural workers, urban public services