The Impact of Land Property Right on China’s Rural-urban Migration

This paper examines the role of incomplete rural property rights in the migration decisions of rural households in China. Specifically, it investigates the relationship between tenure insecurity, restrictions on land rentals, and participation in outside labor markets. The findings indicate that tenure insecurity reduces migration, particularly on forest land, which has implications for the conservation of recently replanted forest areas. The study highlights the importance of secure land tenure and land rental rights in facilitating rural-urban migration, thereby contributing to economic efficiency, inequality reduction, and environmental conservation.