Characteristics of urbanization of China--changes and causes of urban population growth and distribution.

The process of urbanization in China from 1949 to 1982 is described. The author notes that over this period, the urban population increased from 57.6 to 139 million, a rate of 2.79 percent per year. In comparison with other developing countries, China's urbanization level is low. Fluctuations in the level of urbanization over time are noted, and the reasons for them are discussed. The ability of China to implement effective policies controlling internal migration and, in particular, to reverse the flow of migration to urban areas is examined.