International reproduction migration: the case of China

CCCI welcomes Biao Xiang, of Oxford/Max Planck Institute.

International reproduction migration means that people move for the purpose of maintaining and improving their social status and life quality, instead of earning higher incomes. Examples of reproduction migration include birth tourism, retirement migration, migration for education and care, and investor migration (many investor migrants purchase properties and settle families in the destinations but rarely make productive investments).

Reproduction migration from China has increased much faster than labor or settlement migrations since the 1990s. Those who have benefited from China’s development the most leave the rising center of the world economy. They do so to internationalize their reproduction arrangements, and to pursue capital conversation (e.g. from money to status) at the cost of capital accumulation.

The image for this event is a promotional still from the Chinese sit-com, 'Over the Sea, I Come to You,' or 带着爸爸去留学. The show deals with many trends including reproduction migration.

Eli Friedman, Chair, ILR School and Director of the CCCI for Spring '21 hosts and moderates. Professor Friedman teaches the course that is linked to this lecture series, ILRIC 4395, Empire of Migrants.

CCCI was established to create a forum for scholars, researchers, and students with contemporary China interests in any aspect of contemporary China. CCCI is a collaborative effort of the East Asia Program, CAPS, and Asian Studies.