The impact of family structure on the urban settlement intention of family migrants

Abstract

Based on the dynamic monitoring data of the national migrants in 2012–2018, this study analyzes the factors influencing the settlement intentions of migrant workers from a family-oriented perspective. The results indicate that the intention of family migrants to settle is not high, with a slight downward trend over the period. From the perspective of family structure, the main family structure indicators of the family old-age dependency ratio and child dependency ratio have a positive effect on settlement intention. Furthermore, individual characteristics—including gender, age, education level, and hukou type significantly affect settlement intention. In addition, the migration duration, migration range, migration area, and city size all exert significant influences. Employment-related variables also achieve statistical significance. Importantly, the study identifies intergenerational heterogeneity in both the settlement intention and its determinants among family migrants.