Life Satisfaction and Migration Intention of Residents in Shrinking Cities: Case of Yichun City in China
Publication: Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 148, Issue 1
Abstract
Urban shrinkage has received extensive attention from scholars, planners, and urban policy makers. Residents’ life satisfaction and migration intention are an important basis for predicting the future development trends of shrinking cities. This study takes Yichun, a typical shrinking city in China, as an example. Based on the satisfaction and migration intention data obtained from questionnaires and in-depth interviews, the authors use factor analysis and logistic regression models to explore the impact of urban shrinkage on residents’ life satisfaction and migration intention, and the relationship between life satisfaction and migration intention. The results show that the overall life satisfaction of residents in Yichun City did not decline significantly due to urban shrinkage. The improvement of the environment and the reduction of life pressure brought about by urban shrinkage contributed to the improvement of life satisfaction, while the lack of employment opportunities, the decline of landscape, and the decline in the level of livability had negative effects on life satisfaction. Residents with low life satisfaction were more willing to move, but the personal attributes of residents also affected their migration intention.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 42171191 and 41771172), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018M641760), and Education Department of Jilin Province (JJKH20201173KJ).
References
Aiello, A., R. G. Ardone, and M. Scopelliti. 2010. “Neighbourhood planning improvement: Physical attributes, cognitive and affective evaluation and activities in two neighbourhoods in Rome.” Eval. Program Plann. 33 (3): 264–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2009.10.004.
Amerigo, M. 2002. “A psychological approach to the study of residential satisfaction.” In Residential environments: Choice, satisfaction, and behavior, edited by J. I. Aragonés, G. Francescato & T. Garling, 81–99. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.
Andersen, H. S. 2008. “Why do residents want to leave deprived neighbourhoods? The importance of residents’ subjective evaluations of their neighbourhood and its reputation.” J. Hous. Built Environ. 23 (2): 79–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-008-9109-x.
Barreira, A. P., D. Agapito, T. Panagopoulos, and M. H. Guimarães. 2017. “Exploring residential satisfaction in shrinking cities: A decision-tree approach.” Urban Res. Pract. 10 (2): 156–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2016.1179784.
Barreira, A. P., L. C. Nunes, M. H. Guimarães, and T. Panagopoulos. 2019. “Satisfied but thinking about leaving: The reasons behind residential satisfaction and residential attractiveness in shrinking Portuguese cities.” Int. J. Urban Sci. 23 (1): 67–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2018.1447390.
Blanco, H., M. Alberti, R. B. Olshansky, et al. 2009. “Shaken, shrinking, hot, impoverished and informal: Emerging research agendas in planning.” Prog. Plann. 72 (4): 195–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2009.09.001.
Bonaiuto, M., A. Aiello, M. Perugini, M. Bonnes, and A. P. Ercolani. 1999. “Multidimensional perception of residential environment quality and neighbourhood attachment in the urban environment.” J. Environ. Psychol. 19 (4): 331–352. https://doi.org/10.1006/jevp.1999.0138.
Bonaiuto, M., F. Fornara, and M. Bonnes. 2006. “Perceived residential environment quality in middle- and low-extension Italian cities.” Eur. Rev. Appl. Psychol. 56 (1): 23–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2005.02.011.
Braun, E. 2008. City marketing: Towards an integrated approach. No. EPS-2008-142-ORG. Rotterdam, Netherlands: Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM).
Cao, J., and W. Zhang. 2013. “Characteristics of resource-exhausted cities’ industrial function in China.” Prog. Geogr. 32 (8): 1216–1226. https://doi.org/10.11820/dlkxjz.2013.08.005.
Chen, Q., M. Delgado, and H. Fang. 2019. “Does rural population hollowing bring a loss in happiness.” In Proc., 2019 Annual Meeting, No. 291302. Milwaukee, WI: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
Cheshire, P. C., and S. Magrini. 2006. “Population growth in European cities: Weather matters – but only nationally.” Reg. Stud. 40 (1): 23–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343400500449259.
Dassopoulos, A., C. D. Batson, R. Futrell, and B. G. Brents. 2012. “Neighborhood connections, physical disorder, and neighborhood satisfaction in Las Vegas.” Urban Aff. Rev. 48 (4): 571–600. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087411434904.
De Groot, C., C. H. Mulder, and D. Manting. 2011. “Intentions to move and actual moving behaviour in the Netherlands.” Hous. Stud. 26 (3): 307–328. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2011.542094.
Dekker, K., S. de Vos, S. Musterd, and R. Van Kempen. 2011. “Residential satisfaction in housing estates in European cities: A multi-level research approach.” Hous. Stud. 26 (4): 479–499. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2011.559751.
Delken, E. 2008. “Happiness in shrinking cities in Germany.” J. Happiness Stud. 9 (2): 213–218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-007-9046-5.
Fang, Y. 2006. “Residential satisfaction, moving intention and moving behaviours: A study of redeveloped neighbourhoods in inner-city Beijing.” Hous. Stud. 21 (5): 671–694. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673030600807217.
Francescato, G. 2002. “Residential satisfaction research: The case for and against.” In Residential environments: Choice, satisfaction, and behavior, edited by J. I. Aragones, G. Francescato, and T. Garling, 15–34. London: Bergin and Garvey.
Fukao, K., and O. Saito. 2006. Japan’s alternating phases of growth and outlook for the future. No. d06-196. Tokyo: Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
Galster, G. C., and G. W. Hesser. 1981. “Residential satisfaction: Compositional and contextual correlates.” Environ. Behav. 13 (6): 735–758. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916581136006.
Gao, S., and Y. Long. 2017. “Distinguishing and planning shrinking cities in Northeast China.” [In Chinese.] Planners 33 (1): 26–32. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1006-0022.2017.01.004.
Guimarães, M. H., L. C. Nunes, A. P. Barreira, and T. Panagopoulos. 2016. “What makes people stay in or leave shrinking cities? An empirical study from Portugal.” Eur. Plann. Stud. 24 (9): 1684–1708. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2016.1177492.
Haase, D., A. Haase, and D. Rink. 2014. “Conceptualizing the nexus between urban shrinkage and ecosystem services.” Landscape Urban Plann. 132: 159–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.09.003.
Häußermann, H., and W. Siebel. 1988. “Die schrumpfende Stadt und die Stadtsoziologie.” In Soziologische stadtforschung, edited by J. Friedrichs, 78–94. Wiesbaden, Germany: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Hollander, J. B. 2011. “Can a city successfully shrink? Evidence from survey data on neighborhood quality.” Urban Aff. Rev. 47 (1): 129–141. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087410379099.
Hollander, J. B., and J. Németh. 2011. “The bounds of smart decline: A foundational theory for planning shrinking cities.” Hous. Policy Debate 21 (3): 349–367. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2011.585164.
Hollander, J. B., K. Pallagst, T. Schwarz, and F. J. Popper. 2009. “Planning shrinking cities.” Prog. Plann. 72 (4): 223–232.
Hospers, G. J. 2014. “Policy responses to urban shrinkage: From growth thinking to civic engagement.” Eur. Plann. Stud. 22 (7): 1507–1523. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.793655.
Jiang, Z., W. Zhai, X. Meng, and Y. Long. 2020. “Identifying shrinking cities with NPP-VIIRS nightlight data in China.” J. Urban Plann. Dev. 146 (4): 04020034. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000598.
Kamalipour, H., A. J. Yeganeh, and M. Alalhesabi. 2012. “Predictors of place attachment in urban residential environments: A residential complex case study.” Procedia-Social Behav. Sci. 35: 459–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.02.111.
Kang, S., J. Kim, S.-H. Hong, and D.-W. Ko. 2020. “Determinants of the intention to recommend overseas migration to a city: The perspective of foreign residents.” Social Sci. J. 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/03623319.2020.1728511.
Kyttä, M., A. Broberg, M. Haybatollahi, and K. Schmidt-Thomé. 2016. “Urban happiness: Context-sensitive study of the social sustainability of urban settings.” Environ. Plann. B: Plann. Des. 43 (1): 34–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265813515600121.
Lee, Y. J. 2008. “Subjective quality of life measurement in Taipei.” Build. Environ. 43 (7): 1205–1215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2006.11.023.
Liu, Y., Y. Hu, H. Sun, and G. Zhou. 2020. “Study on residents’ quality of life in the context of urban shrinkage: Analysis based on subjective and objective data.” J. Urban Plann. Dev. 146 (3): 05020015. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000597.
Livingston, M., N. Bailey, and A. Kearns. 2010. “Neighbourhood attachment in deprived areas: Evidence from the north of England.” J. Hous. Built Environ. 25 (4): 409–427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-010-9196-3.
Long, Y., and K. Wu. 2016. “Shrinking cities in a rapidly urbanizing China.” Environ. Plan. A. 48 (2): 220–2221. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518x15621631.
Lu, M. 1999. “Determinants of residential satisfaction: Ordered logit vs. regression models.” Growth Change 30 (2): 264–287. https://doi.org/10.1111/0017-4815.00113.
McCrea, R., T.-K. Shyy, and R. J. Stimson. 2014. “Satisfied residents in different types of local areas: Measuring what’s most important.” Social Indic. Res. 118 (1): 87–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0406-8.
McCrea, R., R. Stimson, and J. Western. 2005. “Testing a moderated model of satisfaction with urban living using data for Brisbane-South East Queensland, Australia.” Social Indic. Res. 72 (2): 121–152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-004-2211-x.
Mellander, C., R. Florida, and K. Stolarick. 2011. “Here to stay—the effects of community satisfaction on the decision to stay.” Spatial Econ. Anal. 6 (1): 5–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/17421772.2010.540031.
Niedomysl, T. 2010. “Towards a conceptual framework of place attractiveness: A migration perspective.” Geogr. Ann. Ser. B Hum. Geogr. 92 (1): 97–109. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0467.2010.00335.x.
Oswalt, P., and T. Rieniets. 2006. Atlas of shrinking cities. Stuttgart, Germany: Hatje Cantz.
Parkes, A., A. Kearns, and R. Atkinson. 2002. “What makes people dissatisfied with their neighbourhoods?” Urban Stud. 39 (13): 2413–2438. https://doi.org/10.1080/0042098022000027031.
Portnov, B. A. 2004. “Long-term growth of small towns in Israel: Does location matter?” Ann. Reg. Sci. 38 (4): 627–653. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-003-0189-y.
Prezza, M., and S. Costantini. 1998. “Sense of community and life satisfaction: Investigation in three different territorial contexts.” J. Community Appl. Soc. Psychol. 8 (3): 181–194. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1298(199805/06)8:33.0.CO;2-4.
Reckien, D., and C. Martinez-Fernandez. 2011. “Why do cities shrink?” Eur. Plann. Stud. 19 (8): 1375–1397. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2011.593333.
Schetke, S., and D. Haase. 2008. “Multi-criteria assessment of socio-environmental aspects in shrinking cities. Experiences from eastern Germany.” Environ. Impact Assess. Rev. 28 (7): 483–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2007.09.004.
Schilling, J., and J. Logan. 2008. “Greening the rust belt: A green infrastructure model for right sizing America's shrinking cities.” J. Am. Plann. Assoc. 74 (4): 451–466. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944360802354956.
Sousa, S., and P. Pinho. 2015. “Planning for shrinkage: Paradox or paradigm.” Eur. Plann. Stud. 23 (1): 12–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.820082.
Turok, I., and V. Mykhnenko. 2007. “The trajectories of European cities, 1960–2005.” Cities 24 (3): 165–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2007.01.007.
van Dalen, H. P., and K. Henkens. 2011. “Who fears and who welcomes population decline?” Demogr. Res. 25: 437–464. https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2011.25.13.
van den Berg, L. V. D., R. Drewett, L. H. Klaasen, A. Rossi, and C. H. Vijverberg. 1982. Vol. 1 of Urban Europe: A study of growth and decline. The Costs of Urban Growth (CURB) Project. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
van den Berg, L., J. Van der Meer, and A. H. J. Otgaar. 2007. “The attractive city: Catalyst of sustainable urban development.” In Proc., 1st Openings Seminar European Urban and Metropolitan Planning, 48–63. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Erasmus Univ.
Wang, D. H. 2018. Multivariate statistical analysis and SPSS application. [In Chinese.] Shanghai, China: East China University of Science and Technology Press.
Weaver, R., S. Bagchi-Sen, J. Knight, and A. E. Frazier. 2016. Shrinking cities: Understanding urban decline in the United States. London: Routledge.
Wiechmann, T. 2008. “Errors expected—aligning urban strategy with demographic uncertainty in shrinking cities.” Int. Plann. Stud. 13 (4): 431–446. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563470802519097.
Wiechmann, T., and K. M. Pallagst. 2012. “Urban shrinkage in Germany and the USA: A comparison of transformation patterns and local strategies.” Int. J. Urban Reg. Res. 36 (2): 261–280. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2011.01095.x.
Yan, C., and M. Lin. 2018. “Coordination of the ‘economy-society-environment’ triad in the transition development of resource: Based cities in Northeast China.” Geogr. Res. 37 (2): 307–318. https://doi.org/10.11821/dlyj201802006.
Zhang, Y., Y. Fu, X. Kong, and F. Zhang. 2019. “Prefecture-level urban shrinkage on the regional dimension in China: Spatiotemporal change and internal relations.” Sustainable Cities Soc. 47: 101490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.101490.
Zhou, Y., C. Li, Z. Ma, S. Hu, J. Zhang, and W. Liu. 2019. “Identification of shrinkage and growth patterns of a shrinking city in China based on nighttime light data: A case study of Yichun.” Sustainability 11 (24): 6906. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11246906.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 148 • Issue 1 • March 2022
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 19, 2021
Accepted: Aug 23, 2021
Published online: Nov 9, 2021
Published in print: Mar 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Apr 9, 2022
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Shijia Xu, Ziyu Jia, Yanping Lv, Jicheng Feng, Zhengxu Zhou, Subjective Well-Being and Influencing Factors of Ex Situ Poverty Alleviation Migrants: The Case of Guizhou, China, Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 10.1061/JUPDDM.UPENG-4012, 149, 3, (2023).
- Weixuan Chen, Ali Cheshmehzangi, Eugenio Mangi, Timothy Heath, Changdong Ye, Ling Wang, An Analysis of Residents’ Social Profiles Influencing Their Participation in Community Micro-Regeneration Projects in China: A Case Study of Yongtai Community, Guangzhou, Land, 10.3390/land11060790, 11, 6, (790), (2022).
- Yining Zhang, Guolei Zhou, Yanjun Liu, Hui Fu, Hongri Sun, Matching of Residential and Commercial Space in Shrinking Cities from the Perspective of Supply and Demand: A Case Study of Yichun City, China, Chinese Geographical Science, 10.1007/s11769-022-1275-3, 32, 3, (389-404), (2022).