Building a global city: Negotiating the massive influx of floating population in Shanghai

• Published in: Journal of housing and the built environment 2005-03, Vol.20 (1), p.21-50
• Main Authors: WONG, TAI-CHEE, YEOW, MUN-CHING, ZHU, XUAN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cities; Data analysis; Economic conditions; Economic growth; Economics; Environment; Floating populations; Globalization; Housing; Human factors; International economics; Internationalization; Liberalization; Migrant workers; Municipal governments; Population; Population growth; Public policy; Social exclusion; Studies; Surveys; Urban development; Urban economics; Urban studies; Urbanism; Vacations; World economy
• ISSN: 1566-4910; 1573-7772
• DOI: 10.1007/s10901-005-6763-0

Shanghai is progressively transforming itself into a brand of its own en route to the status of a world-class city. Receiving strong support and planning attention from both the central and municipal government, Shanghai has removed a significant number of conventional trade barriers, and its integration with advanced capitalist economies has been strengthened after China's entry into the World Trade Organisation in 2001. Concomitantly however, the undercurrent of the quasi-hidden human factor, the temporary migrant labour or floating population (liudong renkou) must not be neglected. How have they contributed and will they continue to contribute towards Shanghai's realisation of its ambition? Indeed, the high rates of economic growth are achieved against the backdrop of their participation. Without residence permits, many bear the contempt and discrimination of the local population. This paper addresses the issue of integrating the floating population into Shanghai's plan to become a global hub. First, it examines the potential contributions of low-ordered services of migrants in transforming Shanghai's cityscape as it responds to globalisation following urban reforms. Next, based on the survey results, the perceptions and living experience of the floating population are analysed. Primary survey data collected in November 2002 are used as empirical evidence, illustrating the experience of the migrants and the problems they face. Arguments are focused on the dualistic nature of the floating population in Shanghai's globalisation processes -economic inclusion and social exclusion in the form of marginalisation as a source of social ills. Finally, the paper addresses the municipal government's management plans for accommodating the floating population.