Student Handout

Clearing The Smoke: Understanding China's Internal Migrations

Directions: Read the CNN article, Migrants Are China's "Factories Without Smoke." In groups of three, discuss the following questions and provide complete responses.

1. Why do you think Chinese migrant workers are labeled "factories without smoke"?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Gross domestic product (GDP) is the total market value of all final goods and services produced within the borders of a country in one year . Why is it significant that migrant workers account for 16% of China's GDP growth?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Migrant workers are employed in what type of jobs? Why do you think they work in these areas?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Like immigrants who have crossed oceans and borders in their pursuit of a new life, internal migrants are motivated by the same "push" factors that encourage them to leave their homes and "pull" factors that draw them to a new place. Identify the "push" and "pull" factors that are behind this Chinese internal migration.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Describe the quality of life for migrants in their new life. Provide examples from the article to support your depiction.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Reflecting beyond this article, what changes are created by China's pace of growth throughout Chinese society, socially, economically and environmentally?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. In the final analysis, are the 150-200 million internal migrants a positive or negative phenomenon for:
   
   
   • China?
   • the workers themselves? Defend your position.