How perceived built environment affects social integration of talent workers in megacities? A case study of Shanghai, China

Highly qualified human resources are critical for the development of megacities. Housing can be a key factor facilitating talent attraction, and social integration of talents in the locality. Limited research exists on how talent housing influences the social integration of individuals. Based on a city-wide survey in Shanghai, the study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine how talent housing influences the social integration of individuals. Findings indicated that the perceived built environment could significantly enhance the level of social integration among talents, neither satisfaction with housing characteristics, satisfaction with talent housing policies nor overall residential satisfaction appeared to impact the social integration of the talent demographic significantly. Furthermore, local hukou, being married and higher income could also facilitate the social integration of talents. An important aspect of this study is its insight into how the housing strategies in megacities can strengthen the social networks of the emergent middle class, which adds to a body of housing literature focused on the less affluent (e.g. social mix) or the elites (e.g. gentrification). Local governments of other megacities could learn some lessons from this study in terms of talent housing provision including built environment, and the formulation and implementation of housing policies.