A nation, constitutes of 1.4 billion people, China is gearing up for another economic reform - New Urbanization Plan. Under the current administration, people from rural areas are seeking ways to migrate to larger cities, for better job and educational opportunities. There is no denying that people in China, especially among the younger generations, are questioning the economic agenda, and the ambitions under the current leader. How should we understand the logistics behind all the efforts? How should we see the major changes from rural areas to modern urbanization?

Eli Friedman has a PhD in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and has been on the faculty of the ILR School since 2011. His primary areas of interest are China and Asia, development, social movements, urbanization, and work and labor. He is the author of "The Urbanization of People: The Politics of Development, Labor Markets, and Schooling in the Chinese City" (Columbia 2022)