The Causes, Impacts and Governance Approaches of the "Gaokao Migration" Phenomenon in China

This study investigates the phenomenon of “Gaokao migration,” whereby candidates strategically shift household registration and school records across provinces to gain advantageous access to college admissions. Anchored in institutionalism, educational equity theory, and capital theory, the research employs a qualitative multi-case design based on systematic retrieval and comparative analysis of published academic cases (2000–2025). The study conceptualizes Gaokao migration, identifies its mobility patterns, examines its policy, socio-economic, and cultural-psychological drivers, and evaluates its impacts on procedural and substantive fairness, local educational ecologies, and individual candidates. Building on multi-center governance theory, it proposes a multi-level governance framework integrating national macro-regulation, inter-provincial coordination, school-level self-discipline, and social oversight. The findings aim to enrich theoretical understanding and inform policy reforms promoting fairness and justice in higher education admissions.