The Impact of "Floating Populations" on Children

Students in my developing world class have learned about the "floating populations" created when people in developing countries leave rural areas for urban in search of better employment. China is home to the largest floating population in the world (around 150 million people--about half the population of the United States). Recent reports indicate that as many as 58 million children are left behind by parents seeking work away from their rural homes. Li Jianguo, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the top legislature, has indicated that many of these 58 million children (about 1 in 6 Chinese children) are not properly cared for. The following documentary (on YouTube! in three parts) looks at the way children are affected by this phenomenon. (via Shanghaiist)