Network Characteristics Analysis and Spatial Pattern Division of Settlement Intention of Floating Population in Urban Agglomerations

Abstract

Identifying the network characteristics of settlement intentions of floating populations in urban agglomerations is of great significance in constructing a reasonable spatial distribution of the population and the urbanization of the floating population. Based on China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) data from 2017, this study used social network and geospatial analyses to examine the network spatial structure of floating population settlement intentions and identify their spatial model. Six major urban agglomerations were selected as case studies, including three coastal agglomerations—Yangtze River Delta (YRD), Pearl River Delta (PRD), and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region (BTH)—and three inlands agglomerations—Middle Yangtze River (MYR), Chengdu-Chongqing region (CC), and Harbin-Changchun region (HC). The results show that the residential network of urban agglomerations presents different levels of "circle layer" structure on the whole, and the intensity of residential contact exhibits a distance attenuation effect. The floating population in coastal urban agglomerations originates from a wide hinterland. The agglomeration effect of BTH and YRD is significant, and compared to the rest of the urban agglomerations its floating population exhibits a higher settlement intention. PRD has a low intensity of residential contact and a loose structure; the scope of attraction of inland urban agglomerations is limited, settlement intention is low, and the network is balanced. CC urban agglomeration exhibits weak residential connection, balanced internal and external flow of urban agglomeration, and a primary equilibrium state of its network. Furthermore, MYR urban agglomeration exhibits relatively low residential connection and weak agglomeration and slight equilibrium of its network structure. Meanwhile, HC exhibits a compact internal structure and scattered external structure. There are clear differences in the spatial patterns of settlement intention in urban agglomerations at different locations, scales, and development stages. The floating population's settlement choice reveals a clear regional inclination. The integrated, hierarchical, and structural characteristics of the floating population residence network revealed in this study contribute to decision-making regarding urban floating population management and urban spatial pattern optimization from the perspective of urban agglomeration. Coastal urban agglomerations should enhance the development of regional low-centered cities to stimulate the creation of additional employment opportunities, thereby fostering population influx. Inland urban agglomerations should optimize the configuration of their industrial structure to manage population outflows and inflows effectively, mitigating the risk of excessive regional population decline.

Keywords

• floating population
• settlement intention
• network analysis
• network mode
• urban agglomerations