The migrant population in the People’s Republic of China grew steadily over 30 years before showing signs of decline in the last 5 years. In the paper, push and pull factors identified were associated with the availability of assets both in migration destinations and back at home that the migrants can draw upon for income and livelihoods.

These assets comprise financial, human, and social capital; family relations; access to social security, housing and infrastructure; and productive assets such as land.