The Situation and Transition of Jobs-housing Relocation in Guangzhou, China

Traffic jam is now becoming one of the most serious problems in urban China. Transportation supply can not meet with the increase of traffic demand, thus Traffic Demand Management (TDM) is another important way for resolving the problem. The mismatch of jobs-housing is one of the key reasons of traffic demand during rush hour every day. A case study is conducted in Guangzhou based on a historic survey of peoples' jobs-housing relocation for the period 1996-2007, and some conclusions are obtained. The original planning system of China still plays an important role in people's jobs-housing hunting and daily activities. The more marketing, the longer distance and the more frequent relocation of jobs and housing is emerging. During 1996-2007, the distance of jobs and housing is increasing for most of the people, especially for those living in commercial houses. Price, environment and the attribute of the jobs are given more priority. In order to get better jobs and housing, people sometimes would have to commute longer. At the same time, the main composition of the housing property right in Government-led low-income housing communities has transferred, and the jobs-housing mismatch among the residents in alleviatory (Jiekun fang) houses and commercial houses in these communities has become striking. Moreover, location of housing and personal attribute also have some influence on job-housing location. The closer to the jobs center, the shorter distance and relocation is between jobs and housing. The middle class changes their jobs and housing much more frequently. Jobs-housing mismatch, expansion of urban space, political welfare and the transformation of social and economic system are the main courses of jobs-housing relocation.