Search Results (21)

Employment promotion and employment realization are the core and fundamental problems in the resettlement of land-expropriated farmers transferred to citizens. To solve this problem, it is necessary to clarify the key factors and mechanisms that affect the employment behavior of “farmers to citizens” workers. Taking the labor force from land-expropriated “farmers to citizens” in the construction of Beijing city sub-center as the research object, this paper utilizes Logistic ISM to determine the key factors affecting the employment behavior of the labor force when changing from rural to urban, as well as the internal logical relationship and hierarchical structure among the influencing factors. The results show that only 40% of the migrant workers in the sample have achieved employment, while 69% of the unemployed population have a willingness to work but are limited by age, skills, and family factors. The logistic regression model identifies that the employment behavior of land-expropriated farmers is significantly affected by 10 factors, including gender, age, work experience, hobbies, employment demand, expenditure change, employment difficulty cognition, government training, policy satisfaction and social security. Among them, ISM further reveals that these factors form a three-level hierarchical mechanism of “structure–cognition–behavior”; gender, social security and policy satisfaction are the deep-root factors, and the intermediate factors, such as hobbies and government training, affect employment demand, employment difficulty cognition and other surface factors, and ultimately affect the employment behavior of land-expropriated “farmers to citizens”. Based on this, it is proposed to start from four aspects: differentiated employment guidance, policy transmission optimization, service efficiency improvement, and industrial driving, to systematically promote the realization of more comprehensive and stable employment for the rural-to-residential population, and provide institutional guarantees and practical paths for their sustainable livelihoods. Full article

Background: China’s relocated for poverty alleviation policy has played a pivotal role in eradicating extreme poverty nationwide. However, adolescents relocating with their parents may face multifaceted challenges, including abrupt shifts in their living environments, the reconstruction of social capital, and the psychological turbulence inherent to adolescence. Objectives: We aimed to explore predictors of reducing depressive symptoms in relocated adolescents. We analyzed the associations between social capital, life satisfaction, and adolescent depression. Methods: This study investigated 631 adolescents aged 10–19 years from 24 relocation for poverty alleviation resettlement sites in Shanxi Province. Respondents completed basic demographic information and questionnaires on adolescent social capital, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. The mediating role of life satisfaction was assessed using PROCESS 3.4 analysis. Results: The mean social capital score of the adolescents was 31.96 ± 3.666, the mean life satisfaction score was 23.21 ± 6.282, the mean depression score was 4.03 ± 5.503, and the depression detection rate was 15.2%. We found that social capital was significantly positively correlated with life satisfaction (r = 0.363, p ˂ 0.05), both social capital and life satisfaction were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = −0.362, p ˂ 0.05; r = −0.398, p ˂ 0.05), and life satisfaction partially mediated the association between social capital and depressive symptoms (mediating effect of 18.20%). Conclusions: Adolescents in communities relocated for poverty alleviation are overall satisfied with their lives, but some are experiencing some form of depression. Both social capital and life satisfaction are associated with lower depression levels, and those with higher life satisfaction are better able to cope with the changes in social capital associated with environmental changes after relocation, thus helping to reduce depressive symptoms. Full article

Post-disaster resettlement often faces abandonment and modification; yet, the factors influencing long-term residential satisfaction, especially within diverse communities, remain underexplored. This study examines how satisfaction evolves over time in relation to socio-economic status and community participation comparing the underprivileged Thami community in Panipokhari and the privileged Brahmin community in Jillu Integrated Settlement of Nepal. Using a mixed-method case study approach, this research integrates quantitative satisfaction scores with qualitative insights from surveys, interviews, and observations over three years. Findings reveal diverging satisfaction trends: Jillu’s satisfaction remained stable (3.55 to 3.43 from 2021 to 2023), whereas Panipokhari’s declined (3.27 to 2.33) due to unmet housing needs and limited participation. Correlation tests and qualitative interviews confirmed that while all five key factors—housing design, thermal comfort, water, cultural appropriateness, and architectural aesthetics—influenced satisfaction, their importance varied. These findings challenge “one size fits all” top-down resettlement models, demonstrating that housing adaptability and participatory decision-making are more critical than structural adequacy alone. The study underscores the need for flexible, community-driven housing strategies within the Build Back Better (BBB) framework. By integrating the housing satisfaction theory, the housing mobility theory, and the BBB framework, it advances understanding of socio-economic agency in shaping post-disaster housing outcomes, providing insights for sustainable and inclusive resettlement policies. Full article

Taking Yunyu New Village in Nanyang City, a typical newly built resettlement area of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project of China, as an example, this paper tries to construct a health environment evaluation index system for the resettlement area and determines the priority and content of residential environment renovation in the resettlement area through residents’ health satisfaction evaluation and IPA analysis. The results revealed that six factors, namely, winter insulation, summer heat insulation, quality of domestic drinking water, indoor natural light environment, humanized design, and architectural plane function design, need to be renovated first. For the indoor environment, which is the focus of renovation, the light and heat environments were evaluated via field measurements and simulation experiments. The results show that the indoor comfort, daylighting, and energy savings of the surveyed buildings all fail to meet Chinese building design standards. Corresponding optimization strategies for indoor ventilation, thermal insulation performance of the envelope structure, and window wall ratio are proposed and verified via relevant software simulations and immigrants’ wishes. For the outdoor environment, we investigate the living habits and renovation needs of immigrants from the aspects of public space and courtyard space in the resettlement area and propose corresponding optimization strategies. The results of this research can help enhance the sense of gain and happiness of immigrants in the resettlement and provide a reference for improving the living environment of the same type of immigrant resettlement area. Full article

Psychosocial support programs have been increasingly implemented to protect asylum seekers’ wellbeing, though how and why these interventions work is not yet fully understood. This study first uses questionnaires to examine how self-efficacy, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and adaptive stress may influence wellbeing for a group of asylum-seeking mothers attending a community-based psychosocial program called Welcome Haven. Second, we explore mothers’ experiences attending the Welcome Haven program through qualitative interviews. Analysis reveals the importance of relatedness as a predictor of wellbeing as well as the mediating role of adaptive stress between need satisfaction and wellbeing. Further, attending Welcome Haven is associated with reduced adaptive stress and increased wellbeing, which correspond with the thematic analysis showing that attendance at the workshops fostered a sense of belonging through connection with other asylum seekers and service providers as well as empowerment through access to information and self-expression. The results point to the importance of community-based support that addresses adaptive stress and the promotion of social connection as key determinants of wellbeing. Nonetheless, the centrality of pervasive structural stressors asylum seekers experience during resettlement also cautions that relief offered by interventions may be insufficient in the face of ongoing systemic inequality and marginalization. Full article

The construction of hydropower projects is increasingly prevalent worldwide, particularly in the context of climate change mitigation. Community displacement resulting from the construction of these projects raises significant questions about the post-resettlement welfare and satisfaction of the individuals subjected to project-associated relocation and resettlement processes. Accordingly, the purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of physical resources, locational characteristics, the resettlement area, health facilities, housing facilities, communication, and the socio-cultural environment on the satisfaction of resettled people, along with two mediators: sustainable development and cultural resilience in the resettlement of the project-affected communities of the Barotha Hydropower Project (GBHP) in Pakistan. In this cross-sectional study, data are collected from 223 resettlers from three villages (Barotha, Eassa, and Feroze). The researchers examined sustainable development and cultural resilience as mediating factors that play a role in resettlers’ satisfaction. The physical resource results indicate that, in the GBHPP, resettled people are unsatisfied, while other variables such as locational characteristics, resettlement area, health facilities, housing facilities, communication, and socio-cultural environment play a significant role in resettlement satisfaction. The role of both mediators, sustainable development and cultural resilience, strengthen the relationship between the predictors and criteria in terms of their value and their contribution to the resettlers’ satisfaction. Through the analysis of these variables, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of these factors, which contribute to the satisfaction of resettlers. Additionally, the study seeks to provide insights that can inform the development of strategies that foster the creation of resilient and prosperous resettlement communities. The research conclusions will also aid in developing policies and community initiatives that support the happiness and wellbeing of resettled communities. Full article

Post-disaster housing, constructed on a massive scale, often overlooks the indoor thermal environment, despite being a crucial design factor for residential satisfaction. This study examined the indoor thermal environment in post-Gorkha earthquake-reconstructed prototype and traditional vernacular houses in the Dolakha district of Nepal. It employed a questionnaire survey and measurement of indoor and outdoor temperature in both house types across two study locations: Panipokhari and Jillu, during the coldest winter month. Despite the indoor temperature in both house types falling below the ASHRAE comfort standard, the study found that prototype houses’ nighttime indoor temperatures were 2.1 °C lower in Panipokhari and 1 °C lower in Jillu compared to vernacular houses. This difference is attributed to the use of local building materials with low U-values, substantial thermal mass in vernacular houses, and a low window-to-wall ratio. Occupants expressed dissatisfaction with the thermal environment in prototype houses compared to vernacular ones. By incorporating climate-responsive features seen in vernacular houses, heating energy could have been reduced by approximately 21% in Panipokhari and 10% in Jillu, easing the economic burden on vulnerable households. These findings hold significance for policy-makers, implementers, designers, and other stakeholders involved in post-disaster resettlement housing programs, offering insights for enhancing long-term satisfaction and sustainability in such programs. Full article

The effects of large-scale land acquisitions for development projects such as mining, urbanization and dams are widely contested in the literature. Prior research has focused on the difficulties that resettlement poses for the affected families in terms of their capacity to meet the demands of the new community. This study suggests that resettlement (built environment) quality may act as a predictor and influence the residential satisfaction and quality of life of project-affected families. This study investigates how residential satisfaction influences the relationship between the quality of the dwelling, the context of resettlement homes, and the quality of life of mining-affected families in Ghana. A sample of 256 household heads displaced by a large-scale mining project in Ellembelle was used to evaluate the suggested model. The findings indicate that resettlement quality greatly enhances the quality of life of the mining-affected families. The findings also revealed that residential satisfaction was a significant mediator of the quality of dwellings and the context of the resettlement, in addition to being a strong predictor of quality of life. Indirectly, resident characteristics, such as socioeconomic and demographic conditions, influenced how people felt about their homes and quality of life. These results indicate that residential satisfaction and resettlement quality are accurate indicators of the mining-affected families’ quality of life. Integrating these features make it possible to quantify the mining-affected families’ quality of life for future research and public policy. Full article

Housing satisfaction, crucial for sustainable post-disaster resettlement housing, has received limited attention in research. This study aimed to identify households’ perceived importance of housing satisfaction factors and their significance in post-disaster resettlement housing programs. Focusing on Nepal’s Panipokhari Integrated Settlement after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, it identified relatively significant housing satisfaction factors using mean satisfaction scores, the relative importance index, and Spearman rank correlation. The data were derived from a structured questionnaire survey, complemented by field observations, measurement, and semi-structured qualitative interviews that support the findings. The study found key housing satisfaction factors as need-based housing design (r = 0.70), layout (r = 0.74), modification flexibility (r = 0.70), utility spaces such as kitchen gardens and cattle sheds (r = 0.67), house completeness (r = 0.80), thermal comfort (r = 0.63), and social and cultural aspects such as traditional hearths (r = 0.72) and spaces for rituals and events (r = 0.77). The study concluded that the integration of these factors in the policy-making, planning, and design is important for successful resettlement housing outcomes in regions with comparable socio-cultural and economic backgrounds. The study has practical significance and, thus, will help policy-makers, implementers, and researchers aiming for successful and sustainable resettlement outcomes. Full article

This research investigates the views of the resettled people regarding the practice of resettlement and compensation (RCP) to assess the developmental progress of the Tha Htay hydropower (THH) project and establish a resettlement relationship from various perspectives. In this paper, a convergent mixed research method was used for interpretations and analyses of the whole resettlement and compensation practice. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze the collected data on the resettlement practices of those participants who presented it by frequency and percentage of quantitative findings. The study revealed that educational facilities and development received the highest average rating from the participants, indicating a higher level of satisfaction. On the other hand, the current living situation and job opportunities received the lowest rating, indicating lower satisfaction in this aspect. Overall, the respondents expressed satisfaction with other indicators of the resettlement process, such as site selection, housing, compensation, and fundamental infrastructure services. Despite receiving foreign technical advisory assistance for resettlement and sustainable livelihoods for the resettled communities, the project fell short in providing agricultural or cultivation land as a replacement for those who relied on land-based livelihoods. It was verified that most of the resettled people seemed poorer than in the previous condition, and they were facing higher living standards without adequate income. It is therefore crucial for the project proponent to take active measures in supporting the three resettled Villages by providing agricultural land and assisting them in their livelihoods and overall living conditions, so as to ensure that the resettled households do not face long-term challenges in sustaining their livelihoods after the resettlement project. Full article

This paper explores the planned resettlement process and the social impact induced by the Tha Htay Hydropower Project in Myanmar. Through the empirical case study, the status of direct impact on the resettled people, changes in their livelihood, policy orientation towards practical limitations, practical consequences of resettlement, and inadequate preparation for resettlement implementation were studied as verifiable evidence. In this paper, the survey data were compiled from the responses of resettled people from three resettled villages: Maewa, Payit and Yegauk, which were interpreted as the real condition of the project-affected people because a higher degree of their dissatisfaction negatively affected the project, whereas a higher degree of satisfaction led to positive effects. In this paper, a quantitative method was used to analyze the planned resettlement and its social impact. As a survey descriptive design, a simple random sampling method was utilized to collect samples from the target population with a contribution of structured questionnaires. The collected data were presented by mean and standard deviation to decide the real situation of the resettlement project. The study found that details of social impact were considered to carry out when the construction of the hydropower project began. Then, the policy constraint in the resettlement process was verified, which led to the insufficient preparation and implementation of the resettlement. To meet the future development requirements of the planned resettlement process with fewer social impacts on hydropower development projects, practical contributions and policy recommendations are made for the compensation of farmland, where the people’s livelihoods are land-based, and additional livelihood packages. Full article

In China, the improvement in amenities has been often criticized for not addressing the priorities of residents’ demand due to over-standardised, top–down practices and the misallocation of resources. Previous studies have investigated how people’s wellbeing or quality of life is associated with neighbourhood attributes. However, very few have researched how identifying and prioritizing the improvement in neighbourhood amenities could significantly enhance neighbourhood satisfaction. Therefore, this paper investigated the residents’ perception on the neighbourhood amenities in Wuhan, China, and explored the application of the Kano–IPA model for prioritizing the improvement in amenities in both commodity-housing and traditional danwei neighbourhoods. Firstly, total 5100 valid questionnaires were distributed through street face-to-face surveying to solicit the residents’ perceptions of the usage and satisfaction of amenities in different neighbourhoods. Then, various statistical techniques, including descriptive, logistical regression modelling were adopted to analyse the general characteristics and significant associations of amenities’ usage and demand. Lastly, an age-friendly strategy for the improvement in amenities in old neighbourhoods was proposed by referring to the widely applied Kano–IPA marketing model. The results showed that there is no significant difference in the usage frequency of amenities among different neighbourhoods. However, significant differences of associations between residents’ perception on amenities and neighbourhood satisfaction were identified among different groups of residents. To demonstrate prioritizing neighbourhood amenities in double-aging neighbourhoods, basic, excitement, and performance factors fitting age-friendly scenarios were determined and categorized. This research can provide a reference for allocating financial budgets and determining schedules to improve neighbourhood amenities. It also showcased the variances of residents’ demands and the provision of public goods among different neighbourhoods in urban China. Similar studies can be expected in addressing different scenarios that challenges emerged, such as suburban or resettled neighbourhoods where low-income residents generally live. Full article

Monitoring the living and production standards of resettlers due to hydraulic engineering is at the core of the evaluation of the effectiveness of resettlement and providing post-relocation support. In the past two decades, 0.196 million individuals were relocated outside of the reservoir area (out-resettlers) because of the construction of Three Gorges Dam. In 2019, large-scale tracking and monitoring of resettlers in 1371 households in 122 villages and 12 provinces was conducted by using the methods of stratified sampling, equidistant random sampling, and simple random sampling. The status of out-resettlers from the Three Gorges Reservoir area was compared with that of local residents in resettlement areas and nearby-resettlers based on the production–living–social security–social integration–satisfaction perspective. The results show that the living and production conditions of out-resettlers have significantly improved, and their income and consumption were positively correlated with the development level of the resettlement area. More than 90% of out-resettlers have adapted to local languages, cultural customs, and living habits. Out-resettlers have the highest satisfaction with infrastructure construction and public service facilities, at more than 90%, and the lowest satisfaction with the availability of arable land, at approximately 80%. This study can provide a reference for follow-up work on the Three Gorges Project. Full article

Compensation for land expropriation due to development projects such as mining is shifting from cash to physical assets like housing. Therefore, empirical studies are required to assess the residential satisfaction of project-affected families (PAFs) living in these houses and the factors which can enhance their satisfaction and quality of life in the long term. This study, therefore, assesses the antecedents of PAFs’ satisfaction with their current residence as an outcome of a mining-induced displacement and resettlement (MIDR) in Ellembelle, Ghana. The study adopted SPSS and PLS-SEM to assess the data retrieved from the heads or representatives of the PAFs. The study’s outcome reveals that the neighborhood environment plays the most significant role in predicting the PAFs’ satisfaction, followed by the public facilities and dwelling unit. The study has numerous implications for the resettlement stakeholders, housing policy, and mining development. Full article

In Gansu Province, China, Wuwei City is an ecologically fragile migration area at the intersection of the Loess Plateau, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the Mongolia-New Plateau. Using the Triangular Fuzzy TOPSIS method and the obstacle factor diagnostic model, the implementation performance and follow-up support issues of the Ecological Resettlement Project were analyzed from the perspective of the eco-migrant and the public value theory. In contrast to traditional performance appraisal methods, Triangular Fuzzy TOPSIS breaks through the ambiguity of complex environments and subjective information and effectively quantifies the fuzziness of evaluator language variables to improve the validity. The overall performance of the Ecological Resettlement Project in Wuwei is good; the average closeness degree of process is higher than outcome. Migrants rated the fairness of the project as the highest, followed by support, economic outcome, and satisfaction. Gulang County’s performance in the Ecological Resettlement Project is the best, followed by Tianzhu County and Liangzhou District. Project obstacles were mostly related to the outcome dimension, especially the ecological restoration and management, the return to poverty risk, and industrial development on the resettlement site. The main obstacle to the process dimension is migrant satisfaction with government subsidies. Research results provide case study support and experience inspiration for migrant relocation models and their long-term livelihood improvement in the context of rural revitalization. Full article