China’s ‘Hokou’ registration system allowed this migration to occur without too much of a burden on the urbanising areas. The Hokou system essentially provides a passport for urban citizens. Migrants without credentials can reside in urban areas for work but they do not have access to most urban services including health care and education. As a result, the cost of migration does not pass on to the administration of these urban centres. It has resulted in only the workers themselves moving in search of work while families stayed in the rural habitat where they can access their local services.
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