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Drawing on data from the 2015 China Household Finance Survey, this paper assess the links between rural-urban migration and the marketization of land rentals. The estimated results indicate that farm households with more migrant labour are less likely to participate in land rentals, and lessees with more agricultural labour tend to use the rented land for non-grain production. Meanwhile, lessees with less migrated labour are more likely to rent land for profit and pay high land rent, even when land rentals are conducted between acquaintances. Further evidence shows that lessors with more migrated labour have a higher probability of leasing farmland for for-profit purposes and obtain high land rent. Our analysis reveals that with rural-urban migration, the marketization of land rentals between acquaintances in rural China increases if there emerge large numbers of lessees who are specialized in agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (2017), this paper empirically tested the impact of rural e-commerce development on the return intentions of migrants. We find that rural e-commerce development promotes the return intentions of migrants. Especially in the eastern region, cross-provincial mobility, and unemployed migrants have a more significant impact. Our findings provide valuable insights into the rural-urban migration flow and rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortages of women in rural areas occur in many highly urbanized countries. Rural East Germany is an ideal case for studying this phenomenon because of its low adult sex ratio (ASR)—men greatly outnumber women—coupled with high outmigration among young adults. This study identifies how internal migration between rural and urban areas contributes to the shortage of young adult women. We use data on inter-county migration flows (for years 2002–21) to decompose the impacts of migration flows on ASRs. We find that the low ASRs in rural East Germany have been driven by sex-selective migration. In the early 2000s the main destination of sex-selective outflows was West Germany, while in the 2010s urban areas in East Germany were the key destinations. We find that moves among 18–24-year-olds increased the shortage of women in the rural population, whereas moves among 25–29-year-olds contributed to more balanced ASRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While the mental health benefits of urban green spaces (UGS) are increasingly recognized, less is known about how these relationships vary for socially marginalized groups. This study investigates the association between UGS and mental health among rural-to-urban migrants in Wuhan, China, examining the roles of the quality and quantity of UGS and the intermediary function of perceived everyday discrimination. Methods: We used Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling to analyze data from a social survey, integrating with park-related social media ratings, street view imagery, and geospatial datasets to characterize UGS features and contextual factors, therefore verifying our hypotheses. Results: Both the quality and quantity of UGS significantly influence migrants' mental health, with quantity demonstrating a stronger overall correlation, challenging common assumptions. Notably, social media scores of parks, reflecting positive user experiences, were found to improve mental health. However, the relationship with UGS quantity was nuanced: higher park density and green view index were positively associated with mental health, while increased park area proportion demonstrated the opposite effect. Furthermore, perceived discrimination emerged as a critical socio-psychological factor and operated spatial heterogeneity. In inner-city areas, neighborhoods characterized by plaza-type parks and high park density were associated with reduced perceived discrimination among migrants, showing active social functions of UGS. However, larger park areas are paradoxically correlated with increased discrimination experiences and poorer mental health. Interestingly, this mediatory effect of perceived discrimination was less pronounced in inner-suburban areas. These findings suggest a nuanced role of UGS in the lives of migrants. While certain aspects of UGS quantity, such as plentiful smaller parks, can facilitate social inclusion and improve mental health, others, like overlarge parks, may unintentionally contribute to feelings of marginalization and negatively impact mental health. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the crucial need for context-sensitive green space planning that balances quality and quantity while mitigating discriminatory experiences to improve the mental health of rural-to-urban migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of access to reliable and affordable electricity in Mbo'o community and the reliance on kerosene lamps for lighting has impacted various aspects of daily life in the area such as education, health, safety and economic productivity. Yields rural exodus and poverty. The aim of this research is to address the challenge of inadequate lighting in the Mbo'o community by developing a sustainable and affordable solution using the AEM10941 solar lamp and thus improving the quality of life for community members and reducing environmental impacts. The methodology involved utilizing the AEM10941 and connecting it with an ATMEGA328pu, switch and LED to construct the lamp. This included configuring the AEM10941, designing the printed circuit board for the lighting and control circuits, and then crafting the lamp casing. The lamp was designed to operate in two modes including indoor and outdoor/security modes. Performance evaluation tests revealed that the AEM10941 effectively charges the battery to full capacity within three hours. Additionally, in indoor mode, a single charge can sustain up to 10 h of lighting, demonstrating the lamp's efficiency and reliability in providing prolonged illumination. At full brightness, the lamp produced an illuminance of 1436 lx. the AEM10941 based solar lamps performance characteristics including illumination intensity, runtime and charging time are in accordance with the standards values and even above. This sustainable way of lighting is the convenient solution to improve the general living standard of the Mbo'o community. The key contribution of this work is the development of a sustainable, affordable and versatile solar lamp tailored to the specific needs of the Mbo'o community. This work provides an innovative solution to address the community's reliance on kerosene lamps, thereby potentially reducing emissions while improving safety and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a One-Covariate-at-a-time Multiple Testing (OCMT) approach to choose significant variables in high-dimensional nonparametric additive regression models. Similarly to Chudik, Kapetanios, and Pesaran, we consider the statistical significance of individual nonparametric additive components one at a time and take into account the multiple testing nature of the problem. Both one-stage and multiple-stage procedures are considered. The former works well in terms of the true positive rate only if the net effects of all signals are strong enough; the latter helps to pick up hidden signals that have weak net effects. Simulations demonstrate the good finite-sample performance of the proposed procedures. As an empirical illustration, we apply the OCMT procedure to a dataset extracted from the Longitudinal Survey on Rural Urban Migration in China. We find that our procedure works well in terms of out-of-sample root mean square forecast errors, compared with competing methods such as adaptive group Lasso (AGLASSO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text explores the implications of China's rise to global power status on international distributive justice. It argues that the traditional categorization of states into developed and developing countries is no longer sufficient, and proposes a more nuanced approach based on a state's capacity to achieve a minimally decent standard of justice. The text discusses China's responsibilities towards least-developed countries and explores practical and theoretical implications in areas such as trade restrictions and agricultural subsidies. It also discusses the concept of state capacity and its relationship to the realization of Minimum Domestic Social Justice (MDSJ), categorizing states into three groups based on their capacity. The text concludes that capacity improvements are necessary for the realization of MDSJ and proposes a tripartite framework for understanding states in the international order. [Extracted from the article]

The decreasing rural population and migration to urban areas for high-tech opportunities have weakened the agricultural labor force. While data technology has been adopted in protected agriculture, numerous challenges remain in field agriculture. In this study, we focus on one of the fundamental steps of field operations, i.e., ridge forming, specifically in unmanned agriculture. We compared the performance of a conventional tractor with an implement to that of a ridge-forming robot. The operation data were collected using an acquisition system, and a comparison between the results of both methods was conducted. Additionally, we analyzed the linearity of autonomous driving and the expenses associated with the selected operation. Our findings indicate that the developed robot for ridge forming caused less torque damage and achieved a more accurate target soil depth, with a linearity performance showing a distance error of only 0.267 m. Furthermore, it eliminated the need for hiring an operator and significantly reduced fuel consumption, which accounts for 50.81% of the operational expenses. These results suggest that field operations can be effectively replaced by autonomous systems, and further research on unmanned agriculture is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed rails (HSRs) are a sustainable approach in many cities. Although some studies recognize that introducing HSR is negatively related to carbon emissions, explorations of the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain scarce. The main purpose of this study is to investigate whether introducing HSR reduces carbon emissions through increasing green innovation (GI) and the resilience of environmental investment (REI). Employing signal theory and fault tolerance theory, among others, we propose models that illuminate how inaugurating HSRs reduces carbon emissions through GI and REI. Our proposed central hypothesis is that GI and REI mediate carbon emission reduction by introducing HSR. In this study, we select Chinese cities from 20002021 as a sample and examine our hypotheses via a difference-in-differences (DID) model. The results show that introducing HSR reduces carbon emissions through GI and REI. On the basis of the current status of China's economic and social development, we further analyze several critical moderating effects, such as the digital economy, the urban‒rural gap, and whether it is a resource-based city. In 2023, China's Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) explicitly proposed "developing the digital economy." We find that the digital economy strengthens the negative relationship between introducing HSRs and carbon emissions. The digital economy also strengthens the positive correlation between the introduction of HSR and GI. Additionally, this strengthens the positive correlation between HSRs and REI. In addition, the urban‒rural disparity is a manifestation of China's uneven development. We find that the urban‒rural disparity weakens the relationship between HSRs and carbon emissions. In addition, China's resource-based cities lag behind other cities. Our findings suggest that, in contrast to other cities, high-speed rails increase carbon emissions in resource-based cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examines the impact of parental migration on the psychological well‐being and development of left‐behind children (LBCs) in Zhejiang, China, within the broader context of the country's rural transformations and urban migration. It investigates how intellectual and relational engagement (RE), autonomy (AUT), competence (COM), and relatedness (RES) contribute to resilience (REL) and post‐traumatic growth (PTG) in these children, reflecting on the shift from viewing parental separation merely as a source of trauma to recognizing its potential to foster significant personal growth. Methods: Utilizing a cross‐sectional design, the research was conducted in April and May 2023 with 1348 LBCs from a total sample of 4049 students inZhejiang. A two‐step random, stratified, cluster‐based sampling strategy was employed, and structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypothesized relationships among the constructs. Results: The statistical analysis demonstrated significant positive effects of intellectual engagement (IE), AUT, COM, and RE on both REL and PTG (p <.05 for all). IE strongly correlated with AUT (r =.68, p <.001) and COM (r =.71, p <.001), enhancing REL and facilitating PTG. Additionally, the presence of secure and consistent relationships was identified as crucial for maintaining psychological well‐being, with high correlation coefficients (r >.60) underscoring their importance. Notably, REL was found to moderate the relationships among RES, COM, and PTG, highlighting its critical role in the psychological adaptation of left‐behind children. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of nurturing intellectual and REs, AUT, and COM to enhance psychological REL and well‐being among LBAs. These elements are crucial for supporting the mental health and developmental needs of children facing the challenges of parental migration. The findings advocate for targeted interventions that can address the unique needs of this vulnerable population, emphasizing the potential for growth and adaptation despite adversities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an ethnographic investigation of Moroccan rural-urban migration, specifically focusing on labour migrants from the village of Matat in the region of Asni in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The economic, spatial, and structural constraints that bring about migrants' uncertain trajectories, insecurities, and risks are investigated in how they affect the migrants' aspirations, projects, and decisions related to creating and sustaining a family. While the entire region is affected by socio-spatial relegation, Matat occupies a marginalised position even within the area of Asni due to its geographic location, pushing people to search for work far from Asni. This tans local mobility creates a mismatch between different lived realities and zones of aspiration. Moreover, the transition from subsistence farming to commercial and wage labour results in uneven consequences for the different households in the douar (the village). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of fast urbanization in developing countries, rural-urban youth migration has attracted several researchers to study this phenomenon. In the absence of an institutional formal framework or measures put in place to assist the rural youth migrants in their transition to urban livelihoods more so as self-employed workers in the new and challenging urban environment, this paper examines the role that social networks and social media play in enabling rural-urban migrant youth transition and integration into urban areas as self-employed workers. We used qualitative data collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews in Arua and Kampala, and we also conducted a focus group discussion in Arua city to complement the individual interviews. The research findings showed the continuous dependence of the youth migrants on social networks and social media in participation and belonging in the urban areas as self-employed workers. Our novel contribution to the literature on youth migrants and self-employment is that rural-urban youth migrants seeking self-employment mostly depend on social networks and social media in transition to the urban economy which necessitates a supportive framework by the government or city authorities for their transition and integration in the cities as self-employed workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1978, millions of Chinese workers have migrated to seek personal development opportunities. However, little is known about what the world's largest internal migration means for the public. Safety perceptions concern the vital well-being of each individual and can indirectly indicate criminal activities in society. From a microscopic perspective, this study is the first attempt to focus on the impact of migration on individuals' public safety perceptions in China. Using the ordered probit model and conducting robustness tests using the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Instrumental Variable (IV) methods, we found that an individual's public safety perception generally declines when the proportion of migrants in the community increases. However, the impacts on the various groups were different. Internal migration has been suggested to have a more significant influence on females, older people, high-income groups, locals, and individuals living in the east. Furthermore, migration negatively affected public safety perceptions in China, primarily by endangering employment and weakening social trust. This study has significant policy implications for the effective public safety administration in China. Likewise, the findings could also help many developing countries with migration management because there has been an increase in rural-urban migration during economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The process of urban development and the migration of rural inhabitants to cities resulted in the loss of direct contact with the production of food of animal origin among the non-agricultural population, who associate its origin with the place of purchase. At the same time, the loosening of social bonds typical of city man (Homo civitas), reduced fertility and, consequently, unmet social needs, resulted in an increase in the number of kept companion animals that fulfill people's instinctive need for socialization. In many cases, dogs and cats have been given the status of family members. This shortening of the distance between humans and animals led to the humanization of animals and popularization of veganism and vegetarianism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic heat emissions, which are quantified as anthropogenic heat flux (AHF), have attracted significant attention due to their pronounced impacts on urban thermal environments and local climates. However, there remains a notable gap in research regarding the distinctions in the distribution of anthropogenic heat emissions (AHEs) along urban–rural gradients. To address this gap, the present study introduces a new concept—the anthropogenic urban heat island (ArUHI)—where the AHF within urban areas is higher than that in background areas. To quantitatively describe the magnitude and spatial extent of the ArUHI effect, two metrics—namely, ArUHI intensity (ArUHII) and ArUHI footprint (ArUHIFP)—are introduced. We conducted a comprehensive study across 208 cities in China to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of AHF variations along urban–rural gradients during the period of 2000–2016. In addition, we explored how the complex interactions between land cover and building form components affect changes in the AHF along urban–rural gradients. Additionally, we analyzed how economic zones and city sizes alter the ArUHI intensity and ArUHI footprint. The results showed that 97% (201/208) of Chinese cities exhibited a significant ArUHI effect from 2000 to 2016. The modeled ArUHI intensity value exhibited a substantial increase of nearly fivefold, increasing from 5.55 ± 0.19 W/m2 to 26.84 ± 0.99 W/m2 over time. Regarding the spatial distribution of the ArUHI footprint, the analysis revealed that, for the majority of cities (86% or 179 out of 208), the ArUHI footprint ranged from 1.5 to 5.5 times that in urban areas. City sizes and economic zones yielded significant influences on the ArUHI intensity and ArUHI footprint values. Building forms were significantly positively correlated with AHF, with R2 values higher than 0.94. This study contributes to the understanding of ArUHI effects and their driving factors in China, providing valuable insights for urban climate studies and enhancing our understanding of surface urban heat island mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the worsening of global climate change, balancing economic development with the ecological environment has become an important concern and topic of research across the world. It is worthwhile to study digital finance as a product of the organic combination of finance and digital technology; moreover, the study would include how it affects indirect household carbon emissions while increasing income and promoting consumption. Based on a theoretical analysis, panel data on 30 Chinese provinces from 2014 to 2020 are used to empirically test the impact of digital financial development on indirect household carbon emissions and the underlying mechanism. The impact of digital financial development on the inequality in indirect carbon emissions between urban and rural households is further explored. The research findings show that the development of digital finance increases indirect household carbon emissions. Heterogeneity analysis shows that digital financial development has a greater impact on indirect household carbon emissions in central and western regions and urban areas than in eastern and rural areas. The mechanism analysis shows that the development of digital finance reduces indirect household carbon emissions by promoting green technological innovation; furthermore, it increases indirect household carbon emissions by increasing household income levels. Further analysis shows that the development of digital finance aggravates the inequality in indirect carbon emissions between urban and rural households, and that the urban–rural inequality in household income is an important channel for this effect. The above research conclusions indicate that the development of digital finance results in economic growth at the expense of increasing indirect household carbon emissions and aggravating the urban–rural inequality of such emissions. The above results not only enrich relevant theories of digital finance but also help coordinate the relationship between the development of digital finance and household carbon emissions, which is of great importance for addressing climate change and ensuring sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural-urban migration is one of the most familiar terms in the present world, especially in developing countries. The people of Bangladesh have a strong tendency to migrate towards the megacities. The migrants are required to cope with many uncertainties, risks, and challenges. This paper is aimed to find out the impact of RUM especially on the life standards of the migrants. Here qualitative approach has been followed, and the Baganbari slum of Mirpur region has been selected as the representative of the slums of Bangladesh. Demographic characteristics of the respondents were presented here in order to categorize the migrants. Based on survey questionnaires, 20 household heads of the slum were part of the survey. Three key informant interviews, five FGDs, and two case studies were also used to collect data. During FGD and KII, the respondents were asked about their monthly income, hometown, religion, age, monthly income, and others. Also, the respondents mentioned about some causes of their migration. The study shows the brutalities of slum life and reflects the limitations of slum life as well. According to the findings of the study, the government should take a special look at the proper education and skill development facilities of the slum children.

The Migrant Health Follow-Up Study (MHFUS) is a longitudinal study conducted in South Africa to examine the consequences of migration and urbanization on individual health. The study has collected data on education, employment, migration, household composition, health, health service use, and diet through four study waves between 2018 and 2022. The MHFUS aims to understand the impact of migration and urbanization on non-communicable and infectious diseases and treatment continuity. The study has achieved a high retention rate of 98% of participants. The study provides valuable insights into the experiences and well-being of migrants in the country. [Extracted from the article]

This paper studies how rural-urban migration in China affects the vertical disintegration of firms. We construct a theoretical model and find that the inflow of rural migrants increases the output of firms in urban areas. This leads to a higher degree of vertical disintegration of firms due to the decreasing returns to scale. We also find that the wage of skilled workers relative to that of unskilled workers in urban areas is increased with rural migrants as the vast majority of rural migrants are unskilled. Our empirical findings are consistent with our model predictions using China's population census and manufacturing firm-level data in 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the establishment of Türk Traktör, Turkey's first tractor factory, in the 1950s as part of the country's modernization efforts. The factory was a symbol of national development and aimed to manufacture tractors domestically. However, it faced challenges such as financial difficulties and a lack of spare parts, leading to its closure in 1963. The article discusses the role of American businesses in Turkey's post-WWII reconstruction and the influence of the Marshall Plan on Turkish economic and modernization efforts. It highlights the complexities and limitations of rural modernization and urbanization in Turkey during this period. [Extracted from the article]

Circular migration has played a substantial role in the assimilation process of rural–urban migrants in Spain across the twentieth century. This paper analyses the short‐term impact of the temporariness of this type of migration in the economic assimilation of migrants during the rural exodus, 1955–73. More specifically, I study this process in one key scenario – the Spanish tourism boom. Using a novel micro‐dataset, results show that the temporariness was a key factor that constrained the capacity of migrants to achieve income growth. Thus, the incentives to persist with circular migratory movements and the socio‐economic constraints on permanent settlement had significant adverse consequences. These migrants sorted into lower‐income occupations and had lower incentives and chances to acquire host‐specific human and social capital in comparison with permanent migrants. As a result, circular migrants registered lower occupational attainment leading to a higher income gap with natives and permanent migrants as the years of circular migration increased in number. These results indicate that most migrants had fewer chances than natives of taking advantage of the process of rapid structural change not solely because of lower human and social capital factors but also because of the temporariness of their migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine coastal resources are crucial to Tanzania's socio‐economic development and are a lifeline for the livelihoods and incomes of coastal communities. This study provides an overview of the coastal development of mariculture in mainland Tanzania and suggests future development strategies. The review article covers extensive reports available through field interviews, government policy documents, library literature searches and field work carried out by the authors. Despite the immense potential of mariculture to improve food security for localcommunities, its development has been uneven. Specifically only seaweed farming has advanced to commercial‐scale production. Other mariculture activities, such as finfish farming (e.g. milkfish, silver pompano), shellfish farming (e.g. prawn, mud crab and half‐pearl) and sea cucumber farming, are underdeveloped and confined to small‐scale operations. Locally consumed finfish, such as milkfish and pompano, have not attracted investors out of fear that the recovery of investment may not be achieved due to the low prices offered in the market. In this context, the sustainable use of coastal resources through mariculture becomes paramount to alleviating poverty and facilitating controlled migration from rural to urban. This comprehensive review explores the historical evolution and current status of mariculture initiatives in the coastal waters of mainland Tanzania, which presents a crucial aspect of the socio‐economic development of the nation. With declining global capture fisheries production and a growing demand for fish protein, Tanzania has strategically embraced mariculture as a viable alternative. The article traced the development of mariculture since the 1970s, highlighting past and current initiatives managed by government agencies, non‐government organizations and the private sector. Notable successes, such as seaweed culture, are highlighted along with the challenges that hinder the growth of marine farming activities. The review integrates insights from a comprehensive survey in coastal Tanzania, focusing on mariculture activities and collecting information on people who have stopped such practices, elucidating reasons for quitting. By consolidating experiences from past and present mariculture initiatives, this review provides valuable guidance for decision‐making towards promoting sustainable mariculture that supports coastal communities while preserving marine biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of house prices on floating populations' fertility intentions in China. Specifically, this is among the first studies to distinguish between urban-to-urban and rural-to-urban migrants. Using data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), the results indicate that higher house prices discourage urban-to-urban migrants' fertility intentions but do not significantly affect rural-to-urban migrants' fertility intentions. Moreover, among urban-to-urban migrants, homeowners and those with higher levels of education are more adversely affected by higher house prices. Potential mechanisms are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, China divided its citizens into "agricultural hukou" and "non‐agricultural hukou" to limit rural–urban migration, which contributed to China's early industrialization. However, the binary household registration system no longer suits China's development, and cities in China have successively carried out hukou reforms. Based on the reforms that trigger rural–urban migration, we investigate the impact of low‐cost and low‐skilled migrant workers on firm‐level total factor productivity (TFP). We employ a staggered difference‐in‐differences (DID) strategy to show the following results: (1) The hukou reform substantially reduces the listed firms' TFP by 6.9%. (2) The hukou reform has increased the number of employees and the labor intensity, as well as reduced average employee salaries, employee responsibility, and R&D in enterprises, revealing the mechanism by which hukou reform affects firm productivity. (3) Our findings are particularly pronounced in non‐state‐owned enterprises (non‐SOEs), enterprises with more stringent financing constraints, and cities with wider rural–urban income gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growing global trend in which people seek to establish a simpler, slower, and more sustainable lifestyle away from the pressures of city life. This research analyses globally shared social, political, and planetary concerns, with a specific focus on the urban to rural migration phenomenon in Turkey. The project is based on participatory field research over a 12-month period with individuals who have made life decisions to quit their middle-class jobs to settle in small towns and villages in the West and South-West coastal parts of Turkey to engage in natural and ecological farming. Motivated by the pursuit of a meaningful life in the midst of the happiness and wellness industry intensified by social media, this study examines the key motivations behind migration to rural Turkey. It argues that although these motivations may seem personal, they are entangled with national, local, and global problems that push individuals to migrate to rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty remains a major challenge for the countries of the global south. Decent employment opportunity, a crucial determinant of poverty reduction, is increasingly becoming elusive for those countries regardless of a decent rate of economic growth. There is a growing separation of economic growth and employment growth under the aegis of neo-liberal economic policies. Economic growth, instead of becoming inclusive, turns out to be “jobless” or “job loss.” Failing to reverse this trend, “Active Labour Market Policies” (ALMPs) in the form of “Public Works Programmes” (PWPs) have emerged as a major strategy to reduce unemployment and poverty. Secondly, rural–urban migration is very much relied upon for the same. Raising agricultural productivity, a crucial question of “agrarian transition,” well evident and verified across the globe, is, however, becoming oblivion in the fight against poverty. In this context, based on a primary survey of 300 households in the poorest regions of India, this paper endeavors to investigate the relative strength of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), rural–urban migration, and land productivity on poverty. The study suggests that an agrarian-centric intervention is more effective in dealing with poverty as compared to MGNREGA (ALMPs) and migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines contemporary migration patterns in the Hirakud Command Area, an agriculturally prosperous region in Eastern India. Traditionally, internal migration in India has been associated with factors such as backwardness, agrarian distress, and food insecurity. However, this research challenges this perspective by uncovering a growing trend of migration among the upper socio-economic strata. Contrary to popular belief, present study shows an increasing trend of migration among the educated, unmarried male youths belong to the upper strata of the socio-economic hierarchy, guided by their aspirations, accessibility, and ability of migrants rather than merely by hunger and distress. By highlighting these findings, this study urges a departure from conventional economic determinants and suggests a broader understanding of migration dynamics. It reveals that individuals from marginalized backgrounds are less likely to migrate, while migrants from higher caste-class categories possess better positions, income, and occupational status in their migration destinations. These insights contribute to a more nuanced comprehension of contemporary migration in the Hirakud Command Area. It underscores the importance of considering non-economic factors in migration analysis and calls for tailored policy interventions that address the specific needs and aspirations of different migrant groups. Plain language summary: This study looked at why people moving out from Hirakud Command Area, a relatively agricully Prospoous region in Eastern India. According to popular understanding of migrarion, people migrate because they are poor or hungry and lack of economic oppertunities at origin. But this study found that young men who are educated and belongs to well to do families are migrating more than poor and marginalised families. They move because they want to, not because they have to. This means that we need to think differently about why people move. The study also found that poor people are less likely to move. People who do move usually have better jobs and make more money than poor people who don't move. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In promoting China's comprehensive modernization in pursuit of the grand revitalization of the Chinese nation, the relationship between industry and cities has become increasingly interconnected. National central cities, as the country's economic, cultural, and financial centers, play a pivotal role in driving the development of their surrounding regions. Therefore, this paper focuses on nine national central cities in China and constructs an assessment index framework for urban–rural integration and modernization. This index system covers two aspects: industrial modernization (with a focus on the modernization of the service sector and industry) and urban modernization (with a focus on the harmonious development of people and nature). Using data from 2021, we determine the weights of individual indicators through the entropy weight method. Moreover, the coupling coordination model is utilized to compute the coupling coordination degree for each city, assessing the level of urban–rural integration and modernization. Using Hubei Province as an illustration, we incorporate the measured coupling coordination degree into the analysis of urban–rural integration effects. Spatial autocorrelation using Global Moran's I is applied to explore the spatial radiation effects of the national central city, Wuhan, on its surrounding cities. Simultaneously, 13 prefecture level cities in Hubei Province were selected as radiation areas, and relevant data from 2017 to 2021 were collected. The Durbin, robust regression, and panel model were employed to analyze the economic radiation impact, learning effect, and transportation accessibility effect of Wuhan as a national central city on surrounding cities. Our findings unequivocally demonstrate the paramount role of the service sector in shaping urban–rural integration, as evidenced by Shanghai emerging with the highest level of such integration and modernization, while Zhengzhou lags with the least progress. Moreover, the innovative prowess inherent in Wuhan, which functions as a national central city, exerts a positive influence on the innovation capacity witnessed in its radiating vicinity. Concurrently, the transportation accessibility quotient between peripheral cities and the central city manifests a positive correlation with the economic development level within the radiation zone. These results furnish invaluable insights into strategies aimed at elevating the echelon of urban–rural integration and modernization within national central cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heavy burden brought by the tax practices during the Second World War increased the reaction against the government on the producing class, the peasants and farmers. This reaction started to rise within the CHP and increased the number and influence of the MPs who formed the opposition group within the party. Post-war statements stating that Turkey was in favor of a liberal economy and multi-party democracy facilitated the establishment of opposition political parties. The Democratic Party showed itself as a strong opposition party in 1946. The party, which received great support especially from peasants and farmers, came to power in the 1950 elections. It has been observed that most of the political parties established against the DP, which based its development policy on agriculture and agriculture-based areas during its rule, could not show their presence in the elections and continued the agriculture-based development policies of the DP. Although opposition political parties established for ideological reasons had different solutions to problems such as agricultural insurance, seasonal unemployment, and migration from rural to urban areas, it was observed that these parties could not show a presence in the elections. In this article, the agricultural practices of the opposition political parties established against the DP government are examined according to their programs and declarations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest landscape of the lower valley of Wadi Tamri is a geographical space composed of interaction and perpetual dynamics elements. The degradation observed in the past results from often inadequate silvopastoral practices. Nevertheless, a light of hope for the future of this forest currently lies in the existence of the natural regeneration of the Argan and Thuya trees, the effect of the agricultural abandonment on the slopes following the rural exodus, the development of the forestry capital by the State and the impact of good management practices of natural resources adopted by the local population itself. To examine the dynamics of the forester landscape, we have prospected dozens of plots in the Argan and Thuya zones. In this sample, we counted the natural seedlings, conducted floristic surveys, and briefly described various ecological and geomorphological variables. Then, we developed a statistical database to spatialize and quantify this phenomenon with cartographic tools (GIS). The analysis of these dynamics highlighted the factors of installing young seedlings with all the necessary explanations. The results have clearly shown that the most significant families in this landscape include the Asteraceae and Fabaceae (13%), with the Lamiaceae (10%) following closely. Additionally, the Euphorbiaceae, Solanaceae, Cistaceae, and Anacardiaceae contribute the same percentage (5%). The remaining 18 families each constitute only 3%. Regeneration of young Argan and Thuya trees from seedlings displays varied morphologies, influenced by age and grazing effects, often accompanied by nursery plants. Rocks and blocks serve as significant shelters for seedling germination. Meanwhile, topographic analysis highlights the impact of differing slope gradients for this seedlings. Argan and Thuya seedlings both presents the highest percentage (40% and 50%) observed on mid-slopes and upper slopes. Notable presence of seedlings observed on various slope exposures, especially those facing West, North, North-West, and South-West. Field sampling reveals a correlation between natural regeneration and tree cover density, emphasizing the significance of medium-dense tree cover, even in humanized landscapes, with notable regeneration observed in abandoned terraces and formerly cultivated land in Thuya unit, showcasing ecosystem resilience in this region. Overall, this study offers a preliminary scientific foundation for further investigation into the natural regeneration of Argan and Thuya amidst ongoing climate change, while also serving as a cornerstone for decision-making in conserving these forest heritages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Rural-urban migration has been such a phenomenon that the migrants expect higher wage rates and more promising job opportunities in urban areas. However, it does not necessarily solve poverty problems since many people in urban areas still live in poverty. For example, some of the Pekanbaru City population - known for its abundant natural resources - are less fortunate and live as parkara-kara (scavengers). As a manifestation of God's presence in the world, the church gives attention to poverty alleviation. Diakonia, as one of the three vocations of the church, provides educational funding assistance to the poor and training to increase their knowledge. Social entrepreneurship is an alternative to solving social problems by improving the economy in demand by social and religious organizations. This study uses a qualitative method with a case study approach. In-depth interviews with informants became a source of research data, and documents became data to support interview data. This study aims to reveal the church's ministry as an effort to alleviate poverty in the congregation. The study results show that the church has become a social entrepreneur, helping the poor through educational funding. In addition, the church also provides training to increase the congregation's knowledge so they can have their own business. The church becomes a social entrepreneur and forms a congregation to become a social entrepreneur, which is an important finding in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Society: Chinese Journal of Sociology / Shehui is the property of Society: Chinese Journal of Sociology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Long-term stability is crucial in cropland for maintaining stable agricultural production and ensuring national food security. However, relatively few studies have been conducted on the long-term stability of cropland at the national level. This study assessed the long-term stability of cropland in China from 1990 to 2018 using a fine-resolution land use dataset. The experimental results indicated that the average area of unstable cropland in China from 1990 to 2018 amounted to 2.08 ×   10 6 km2, 47.31% of the total. The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau exhibited the highest average proportion of unstable cropland at 65.9%, followed by the northern arid and semiarid region, Southern China, and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau. The quantity of unstable cropland in China initially declined before increasing, reaching a final growth rate of 5.09%. Furthermore, this study explored the relevant driving factors of cropland's long-term stability from both natural factors and human activities based on artificial neural networks. The relative importance of distance to vegetation reached a value of 0.30, indicating that it had the most significant influence on the long-term stability of cropland, followed by relief amplitude and soil type. This phenomenon may be attributed to the inadequate execution of the Grain for Green Policy and the requisition–compensation balance of cropland policy, along with the depletion of young and middle-aged laborers due to urban migration from rural areas. Local governments should focus on addressing the unsustainable exploitation of sloped land in rural mountainous or hilly regions while preventing urban developers from appropriating fertile cropland to compensate for less fertile areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We seek to quantify the relationship between urbanization and economic growth in China using recent advances in econometric techniques. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a smoothed instrumental variables quantile regression (SIVQR) estimator to obtain consistent estimates of the effects of urbanization on economic growth in China. Our approach accounts for the differential impacts of urbanization across the conditional distribution of economic growth while allowing for an identification strategy that addresses the endogeneity of urbanization. Our main findings reveal that ignoring urbanization endogeneity leads to inconsistent estimates of urbanization effects. Further, we find a positive relationship between urbanization and growth resembling an inverted U-shape. This supports the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of urbanization intensify at initial stages while diminishing beyond a certain threshold, due perhaps to weakening scale economies. Findings: Our main results indicate that the individual productivity gains brought by urbanization outweigh the negative effects thereof that impede productivity, thus contributing to the economic growth in China. Further, we find that ignoring differential impacts of urbanization underestimates the beneficial effects of urbanization for provinces whose quality of governance is in the vicinity of the center of quality distribution. Ignoring the endogeneity of urbanization generates inconsistent estimates of the elasticity of economic growth with respect to urbanization. Finally, we estimate an inverted U-shape resembling relationship between urbanization and growth. Research limitations/implications: First, future studies would benefit from incorporating more data as provinces further east on the mainland become more urbanized and urbanization runs its course. Second, controlling the barriers to rural-urban mobility would contribute to the robustness of the estimated relationship between urbanization and growth once such data became available. Unveiling the impact of government-imposed barriers is key to designing optimal policies that help fuel economic growth in the country. Finally, future research could benefit from information on urbanization sources not considered here such as inter-provincial migration, as such data become publicly available. Practical implications: Quantifying the beneficial effects of urbanization on economic growth can help guide the government in China to further fuel the growth through a set of relevant policy tools that promote urbanization. Social implications: Rural-urban migration in China lays the groundwork for economic advancement in recipient cities and economies, as it may induce scale economies. This can benefit both the economy at large and the migrants. Originality/value: The SIVQR estimator accounts for potential heterogeneous effects of urbanization across the entire conditional distribution of growth while allowing for an identification strategy that addresses the endogeneity of urbanization. An additional distinguishing feature of the current study is our use of the most recent novel, provincial-level data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Our focus on a single country allows sidestepping issues arising from the inconsistency of the definition of urban across different countries while accounting for intra-country urbanization drivers intrinsic to China, such as natural features and geographic characteristics. Therefore, our approach has the potential to sidestep the bias resulting from the differences in mechanisms behind urbanization-growth relationships across different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal rural-urban migration is becoming a priority in social research. However, no one has systematically studied the intentions of farmers to migrate internally to Bangladesh to seek permanent urban residence via paid employment yet. This paper develops a TPB (theory of planned behaviour) model to explain farmers' intentions to migrate or not migrate to cities for paid employment; then, this paper tests the model against the data collected. A total 372 individuals (migrated farmers) were randomly chosen from 11,200 families who had left a rural area in Bangladesh to collect quantitative data about the issues raised in the model; the data were collected by a telephone interview. The socioeconomic profile of the respondents fits that of internal migrants identified in the literature, and the Cronbach's alpha as well as composite reliability statistics suggest that the data are representative of the population. According to the structural equation modelling (SEM) data, attitudes towards migration (ATTs) and subjective norms (SNs) have an impact on migration intention (MI), while perceived behavioural control (PBC) show no significant effect. This study used a primary dataset from interviews with rural migrants working in different sectors in different cities in Bangladesh. This suggests that the planned behaviour model may help explain farmers' decisions to migrate internally in Bangladesh and that policies based on the model may successfully reduce such migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Comunicaciones en Estadística is the property of Universidad Santo Tomas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This chapter focuses on the spatial dynamics of population distribution and growth trends over the last decade. It uses population size - along with reachability measures - to classify settlements. The analysis focuses on the European Union due to the availability of grid-level data on population changes for mid-size settlements. Urbanisation trends are apparent along the rural-urban continuum, even amidst the European context of a declining population. On average, larger cities are growing faster than small cities and, in turn, faster than towns and villages. Towns near cities grew more than the cities themselves, while many settlements far from cities lost population. Regression analysis, adjusting for local growth patterns, indicates that settlements with greater service provision generally had more positive population growth. The findings suggest that, over the past decade, urbanisation (and remoteness) has played a greater role than services in population growth (and loss) in European towns and small cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the multidimensional problem of energy poverty, focusing on its connections to climate change and its manifestation at rural and urban scales across selected European countries and Israel. The study examined 31 locations in eight countries with diverse geographical and economic backgrounds: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, North Macedonia, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, and Israel. The article aims to understand how winter energy vulnerability in rural and urban locations in these countries could be identified using selected energy poverty indicators and how it evolves under the influence of climate change. A set of sociodemographic, infrastructural, and economic variables, combined with climate analysis, were selected and assessed for their impact on energy poverty. We found that energy poverty in most countries depends significantly on location and regional development. Due to a combination of factors influencing energy poverty, rural households tend to be more vulnerable. Furthermore, climate change consequences will likely leave rural areas more likely to experience energy poverty in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental changes induced by urbanization may significantly alter plant survival strategies, thereby introducing uncertainties in their ability to withstand extreme heat. This study, centered on Jinhua City, distinguished urban, suburban, and rural areas to represent the various intensities of urbanization. It examined the leaf function properties of evergreen and deciduous trees common in these regions, focusing on leaf and branch characteristics. Employing an analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), and path analysis (PA) of the plant functional traits and the climatic factors of each region, this study assessed the impact of urbanization on plant survival strategies. By tracking changes in plant functional traits from June to August, it explored the capacity of plants to acclimate to urban-warming-related heat stress across different urbanization gradients. The findings revealed that leaf thickness (LT) and stomatal size (SS) initially decreased and then increased, whereas specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf tissue density (LTD) first rose and then declined, from rural to urban regions. From June to August, branch wood density (WD), chlorophyll (Chl) content, LTD, and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) increased, whereas SLA and leaf water content (LWC) diminished, in all regions. PCA suggested that there was no significant change in the resource allocation strategy of plants (p > 0.05), with drought tolerance significantly reduced in the suburbs on the gradient of urbanization (p < 0.05). During the summer, with high temperature, plants were predominantly biased towards slow-return, conservative strategies, particularly among evergreen species. Compared to precipitation, PA revealed a significant urban warming effect. During summer, temperature was the main factor influencing resource investment strategy and drought resistance, with a notably stronger impact on the former. The high temperature in summer promoted a conservative survival strategy in plants, and the urbanization effect increased their tolerance to high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the urbanisation stage of bilateral urban–rural interaction, China is adopting various policies to achieve rural revitalisation and provide diverse destinations to which farmers can migrate. Most previous studies have focused on urban destinations; thus, new countryside locations are not as well understood in this context. This study focused on first migration practices to examine new countryside destinations for farmers in China. This study established a conceptual framework to explain the diverse migration destination options based on three aspects: human capital, economic characteristics, and social characteristics. Based on survey data from farming households in a traditional agriculture area in Xinxiang, a multiple logit model was used to examine why new countryside destinations were adaptive first migration destinations. The results indicated that farmers were influenced by land capital and low initial household incomes. Specifically, many farmers were attracted to new countryside locations close to their original villages because of the need for cultivated land and farming, thus providing a logical first move in the rural–urban migration process. Poorer households were willing to first improve their living conditions in this way. This suggests that new countryside construction can help achieve rural revitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing numbers of rural girls and young women in Ethiopia are migrating to urban towns and cities and taking up employment as domestic workers, some of whom continue their education by attending evening classes. For urban households, rural migrants help to fill the domestic work gaps created by the entry of urban women into employment. For rural young women, migrating as a domestic worker is an important strategy for achieving social mobility and empowerment. However, domestic workers are vulnerable and largely hidden in the city and we know little about their lived experiences. In this paper, we start to address this gap, drawing on interviews with eight rural female migrants who are working as domestic workers in the city and attending evening classes in urban secondary schools. Informed by a critical framing of empowerment, we explore the extent to which intersecting inequalities in rural areas disempower these young women, and how migration and education become important strategies for improving their lives. We show how the support of social network members is crucial in enabling participants' migration, yet how this also leads to power asymmetries and exploitation. We reflect on how the ability of rural young women to achieve better futures is limited due to their status as poor, rural, female migrants, yet how many wait in the city in the hope of a better future. Our analysis demonstrates the importance of critical approaches to female empowerment that includes a focus on structural inequalities and power imbalances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban agglomeration plays a vital role in fostering high-quality and sustainable development in China, where urbanization rates significantly influence both urban and rural environments, generating different economic and socio-spatial impacts that, in turn, influence carbon emissions in cities. To delve into the influencing mechanisms of carbon emissions, this paper examines the spatio-temporal pattern of carbon emissions across 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration in China. It utilizes data on economic, social, and spatial factors from 2012 to 2019 and employs a spatial econometric regression model for analysis. The results indicate that carbon emissions of cities in the urban agglomeration exhibited strong spatial correlation from 2012 to 2019, characterized by relatively stable cold and hot spots, along with continuous outward spread of high-value zones. Economic and social factors demonstrate a significant positive spatial correlation with carbon emissions of a city, with weak spatial spillover effects. Spatial factors exhibit correlations with carbon emissions in both the city and neighboring cities, with strong spatial spillover effects. Moreover, the spatial layout and functional division of cities in the urban agglomeration also significantly impact the spatio-temporal pattern of carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]