However, two common motivations for local governments to implement reform exist: First, the financial crisis of 2008 caused a labour shortage and hindered the capacity for coastal enterprises to function; hence, hukou reform was prioritised by governments seeking a stable source of labour.11 Second, because of some local governments’ limited access to land for development, they have encouraged hukou reform that requires migrants to forfeit their contracted land such that local government can use it for development.12 These two motivations demonstrate that it is not due to the ambition of the local governments to ensure equality that reforms are implemented. This puts in doubt that reform will address exclusions.
Indeed, land development is why Chongqing implemented hukou reform. One condition for transferring hukou is transferring land rights to the government for compensation. There is a 3-year time frame in which claims to land rights can be reversed should employment problems arise. Rural migrants who agree and have met other requirements can receive the same privileges as urban citizens.13 In spite of these attractions, it must be noted that Chongqing is heavily dependent on boosting land values to finance the hukou reform. More importantly, boosting land value and attracting investmentcontribute positively to cadre evaluation targets of urbanisation and GDP growth. Consequently, the government has been forceful in settling farm families into apartments that are at times incomplete, and it has been active in pressuring families into changing hukou through intimidation in order to take possession of land rights.14
Despite, or perhaps because of these incidents, the Chongqing hukou
88811. F., Cai. “Hukou System Reform and Unification of Rural-urban Social Welfare.” China & World Economy, 19(3), 2011.
88812. Ibid. 6
88813. T., Miller. China's Urban Billion: The story behind the biggest migration in human history. Zed Books. Kindle Edition, 2012.
88814. D., Hai. “In Chongqing. Hapless Farmers Yield to Dozers.” Caixin Online, 2011.
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