The household registration (hukou) system is one of China's key institutions that proves to be both a blessing and a curse for China's citizens and development. Though initially intended to restrict migration between rural and urban areas, the hukou system has been adapted over the years creating an altogether new and more complex system. The hukou system is currently a main source of China's increasing levels of inequality. Attempting to address these issues, the Chinese central government recently permitted several local governments to enact groundbreaking pilot reforms, such as those occurring in Chengdu and Chongqing. In order to understand China's future, it is necessary to study the hukou system and how it relates to other aspects of Chinese life. This project examined local pilot reforms in Chengdu and Chongqing to understand the impact that pilot reforms will have on the hukou system, China, and the global community.
