Eli Friedman on the Urbanization of People
6 October 2022
In this episode researcher and author Eli Friedman talks about his new book “The Urbanization of People”. The book takes migrant schools in China, particularly Beijing, as its starting point. In the conversation with IHRB's Annabel Short, they discuss urbanization patterns in China – including a process that Friedman terms “just-in-time urbanization” after Toyota’s “just-in-time” supply chain strategy – and the related experiences of migrant workers and their children. They also cover the role of real estate within the Chinese economy, and similarities and differences with other global contexts.
China has seen large-scale migration of workers from rural into urban areas. While the phenomenon of “left behind children” in rural areas has been widely reported, many children travel with their parents to cities. Given barriers to accessing public services that rest on a residency-status policy known as “hukou”, many of these migrant worker children are educated in privately-run migrant schools outside of the main public school system. A lack of investment means that these schools are often poorly constructed, with limited protection against excessive heat, cold, rain and air pollution. The students experience continuous disruption and turmoil: widespread school demolitions and closures take place as a combined result of government policy and rising land values.
For further context see:
- The Urbanization of People – The politics of development, labor markets and schooling in the Chinese City, Eli Friedman, Columbia University Press
- Financial Times video: “Evergrande, the end of China’s property boom”
- And IHRB’s “Framework for Dignity in the Built Environment”, which covers the human rights dimensions of the six built environment lifecycle stages: Land; Planning & Finance; Design; Construction; Maintenance & use; Demolition and redevelopment.
Stream above, or you can listen on your favourite podcast player.
If you care about human rights and are curious about the impact of business on peoples’ rights, then follow Voices to get each episode straight to your feed.
Editor: Deborah Sagoe, IHRB's Communications Coordinator
