PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques
(Joint research unit CNRS-EHESS-ENPC-ENS), Paris

Tsing Hua University - Beijing - China

How can healthcare access for Chinese migrants be improved? Migrant workers face two types of healthcare-access exclusion in the workplace: a financial one (via income) and a legislative one (from the "hukou"). We use 2006 data from a survey of rural migrant workers conducted in five of the most economically-advanced cities. We estimate a fixed-effect probit model, and control for the non-exogeneity of health insurance. The empirical findings support the hypothesis of a return to the hometown for migrant workers with poor health. Apart from residency permits and income, the social integration of migrant workers is also found to be a decisive factor in healthcare access. Policies tackling migrant healthcare exclusion should thus involve organisations working at the local level, such as residents' committees.

Keywords : healthcare access, health insurance, social capital, China, migrants.

JEL classification : D82, H52, I18.

Creation : September 2009

Revision : April 2010