The developmental citizenship regime and the settlement plans of aspiring middle-class migrants in China's hinterland metropolises

The existing literature on China's developmental citizenship strategies aimed at attracting migrant talent for economic growth has overlooked the responses of aspiring middle-class migrants to these policies. This paper addresses that gap by examining the settlement plans of such migrants in hinterland metropolises that have proactive developmental citizenship initiatives. It draws broader conclusions about the evolution of China's urban citizenship regime. Based on qualitative research conducted in Wuhan, this study reveals that the citizenship benefits offered through hukou conversion often fall short of the expectations of well-educated rural-to-urban migrants seeking urban middle-class status. It further explains how citizenship rights in hinterland metropolises are increasingly distributed based on occupational and economic status rather than hukou status. The findings show that the market-oriented transition of the developmental citizenship regime has led many aspiring middle-class migrants being reluctant to hukou conversion in metropolises, opting instead to settle in smaller cities through private property investment. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.