Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.12, 2013

Household Registration Reform, Labor Mobility and Optimization of the Urban Hierarchy

(Abstract)

Liang Qi, Chen Qiangyuan and Wang Ruyu

A rational hierarchical distribution structure by rank-size is indispensable for the optimization of China’s urban hierarchy. On the basis of the number of permanent urban residents, using the rank-size rule test and core density estimation within the framework of spatial economics, we set up an employment location choice model and conducted numerical simulations. Our findings show that the structure of China’s urban hierarchy is different from the pyramid structure of Zipf’s law. The household registration system impedes free labor mobility and city size distribution deviates from Pareto optimality. Household registration reform would be conducive to the optimization of urban hierarchy. Optimizing this system should become a consistent objective in the construction of new-style urbanization, city clusters and metropolitan circles today.