Among numerous countries exhibiting large cases of domestic migration, China stands out as one of the most prominent countries with such a drastic case. Although domestic migration is a proverbial “double-edged sword”, the self-facing blade seems sharper than the latter; with an approximate 26 disadvantages, to counteract the 13 positives brought about due to the domestic migration, from rural areas in the west of the mainland, to urban areas along the coast. In regards to why the residents decide to make the switch from the rural, countryside to urban areas, the reasons as to why this takes place are copious, but can often be generalised into: a lack of jobs, provision for family and most frequently, escape from poverty. This case of migration has affected both the origin area and destination area socially, economically, politically and environmentally; all of which, will be further elaborated upon within the text.
Regarding the social impacts of migration, the negative impacts on the origin and destination, far outweigh the positives; with the positives being: teachers acting as a replacement for parents while children are in school within rural areas, and the improvement of the standard of living within urban areas due to the revenue produced by migrant workers. The negatives however, take up more space than their counterparts; although the majority of the limitations imposed upon the origin, is brought about by the departure of the wider margin of the adult populace; as seen by more than half of the adult populace leaving, forcing them to distance themselves from their children, children who may suffer from psychological problems due to lack of communication with their parents. The official figure for the representation of children being left with grandparents when parents leave to find work, is approximately 1 in 7; the number of children left behind has however, doubled in the last five years, resulting in 58 million children