Investigating the Impact of Urban Greenspace on the Settlement Intention of Domestic Migrants: Evidence from China

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of urban greenspace on the settlement intention of domestic migrants in China. We find that urban greenspace increases migrants’ intention to stay long term in the area where they currently live. This positive impact is greater for migrants aged 45–60, with nonagricultural household registration, interprovincial migration, and more educated and higher income. We also empirically test two mechanisms through which urban greenspace affects migrants’ settlement intention–health effect and emotional effect. Moreover, we demonstrate that the positive impact of greenspace on settlement intention can be offset by crowded areas. This study expands the research field of environment and migration, providing valuable practical significance for urban ecological environment construction and the improvement of domestic migrants’ management in China.