Eli Friedman talks about his new book “The Urbanization of People” in a conversation IHRB's Annabel Short. They discuss urbanization patterns in China - including a process that Friedman terms “just-in-time urbanization” after Toyota’s “just-in-time” supply chain strategy – and the related experiences of migrant workers and their children. They also cover the role of real estate within the Chinese economy, and similarities and differences with other global contexts.
China has seen large-scale migration of workers from rural into urban areas. While the phenomenon of “left behind children” in rural areas has been widely reported, many children travel with their parents to cities. Given barriers to accessing public services that rest on a residency-status policy known as “hukou”, many of these migrant worker children are educated in privately-run migrant schools outside of the main public school system. A lack of investment means that these schools are often poorly constructed, with limited protection against excessive heat, cold, rain and air pollution. The students experience continuous disruption and turmoil: widespread school demolitions and closures take place as a combined result of government policy and rising land values.