Research On Transformation Of The Social Spatial Structure Of Floating Population In Shanghai's Suburban Areas

In recent years, a great mass of migrant workers from rural area are now crowding into cities in search of job opportunities, while for various reasons, other social groups are also moving into economically advanced cities. Under this background, Shanghai, as the largest city in China, is experiencing a complex and profound process of social spatial restructuring, resulting in increasing differentiation in socio-economic and built environment.The paper' s research on the social spatial structure of floating population in the central city of Shanghai includes theoretical discussion and empirical analysis. After reviewing a wide range of methods and theories in this research field, the paper presents a case study of the social spatial structure of floating population in the Shanghai' s suburban areas in the year of 2000. Based on data from the fifth census of population in 2000 and the study by Zhao Miaoxi and Li Yun in 2005, methods of factor analysis and social area analysis are used to analyze the social spatial structures of both floating population and local population. Besides, based on the census of population in 1990 and 1995, the paper also analyzes the transformation of floating population in suburban areas. Finally, the paper tries to interpret the underlying reason of social spatial transformation of floating population at restructuring process of the policies, economics and society by macroscopic, medium and microcosmic levels.This research indicates that the social spatial structure of floating population in Shanghai' s suburban areas consists of four main districts, long-staying groups district, blue-collar workers staying district, high-status workers staying district and brink district. Besides, the transformation of floating population consists of four main features, concentric-zone, more gathering near the urban area, more outward to the outskirts, farming and long-staying groups bordered to the margin of shanghai. Shanghai' s suburban areas has experienced transformation from a homogeneous mode under the planned economy to a heterogeneous mode under the market-orientated economy, resulting from the transformation of economic system in the past two decades.