Speaker
Description
Sharing economic development achievements is crucial for urban inclusivity. As globalization progresses and the economy grows, urbanization has become a vital indicator for assessing the socio - economic development level of a region. As an inclusive urbanization model, in - situ urbanization centers on the interests and demands of the rural population, a disadvantaged group. It can reduce the migration costs and efficiently extend the scope of public welfare to a broader demographic. As a result, the rural population can actively participate in urban co - construction while also enjoying the fruits of urban development. Nevertheless, in China, the transition of the rural population into urban residents has not been smooth sailing. The rural population in cities not only lacks social welfare and material security, but also has no sense of identity and belonging, showing a tendency to be marginalized. Therefore, research on in - situ urbanization of the population is timely and significant. Presently, the Suzhou - Wuxi - Changzhou metropolitan area in China has basically entered the late phase of urbanization. What stands out is that in - situ urbanization, as the key mode of its urbanization, has been highly productive. It results in a slight difference between the urbanization rates of the permanent and registered populations. Simultaneously, the boundary of the urban - rural dual structure becomes blurred.
This study aims to measure the in - situ urbanization level of the population in the Suzhou - Wuxi - Changzhou metropolitan area and explore its influencing factors. Firstly, in conjunction with the national statistical data, the study analyzes the current situation and characteristics of rural population mobility. Then, according to different in-situ urbanization stages, the study determines four primary level measurement indicators from the participants' perspective: the urbanization of economic livelihood, social participation, personal qualities, and consciousness behavior. Each has three sub - indicators. Thereafter, the Equal - Weight Weighting Method is utilized to construct a citizenization level measurement model. Secondly, the Grounded Theory is applied to formulate a model of the influencing factors for the in - situ urbanization of the population. Meanwhile, the Structural Equation Model tests hypotheses and model validity on collected data, exploring the intensity and direction of the various factors. Finally, a comparative analysis of the implemented strategies is performed, aiming to help local governments formulate targeted and differentiated in - situ urbanization policies for the population.
The research results demonstrate that：
（1）In the Suzhou - Wuxi - Changzhou metropolitan area, the rural population's migration is infrequent and mostly local or near - by. After in - situ urbanization, the rural population has witnessed multifaceted enhancements. However, they are still concentrated in low - end urban jobs and have low acceptance of their citizen status.
（2）Among the influencing factors, the mismatch between the uniform policy supply and in - situ urbanization demand is the biggest hindrance. In addition, the rural population choose in-situ urbanization mainly to maximize personal comparative interests, especially when rural employment, income, social security, and local attachment outweigh urban equivalents.
（3）In response to these issues, the research suggests strategies like reforming the household registration system, perfecting the land system, strengthening social security, enhancing human capital and optimizing public services. These aim to transform the production, living, and residential patterns of the rural population, ensuring their equitable, all - around and sustainable development.
This study deeply grasped the complexity of in - situ urbanization and the rural population's true perspectives and needs. It offers a more viable development path for breaking the urban - rural divide, promoting balanced resource allocation, and enabling all to share urban development dividends.
| Keywords | metropolitan area; in-situ urbanization; rural population; achievement sharing |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
