Tolerance for Housing Unaffordability among Highly Skilled Young Migrants: Evidence from the Zhejiang Province of China

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 29;20(1):616. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010616.

Abstract

Many studies have concluded that, since housing pressure affects the mobility of highly skilled young migrants (HSYMs) in Chinese cities and regions, it is necessary to apply corresponding housing policies to adjust housing unaffordability for HYSM. This study uses data from a survey conducted in China's Zhejiang Province, where specific policies have been implemented to attract talent. We found that housing crowds out HSYM from a city, but that the HSYM who have a master's degree or above, or who work in government organizations or state-owned enterprises, are more tolerant of housing unaffordability. Those who are unmarried or those staying in the city for a long period are less tolerant of housing unaffordability. Meanwhile, different factors have heterogeneous impacts on the HSYMs' tolerance for housing unaffordability across cities of different levels. Therefore, housing policies should highlight urban differences and intra-group differences, and more housing land should be provided to attract talent.

Keywords: highly skilled young migrants; housing unaffordability; land provision; migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Developing Countries
  • Emigration and Immigration
  • Housing*
  • Humans
  • Population Dynamics
  • Transients and Migrants*
  • Urban Population

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Zhejiang Provincial Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project (No. 23NDJC088YB) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 72274176).