China's Anti-natalist Policy

Sex ratio of 113 boys to 100 girls

May be due to sex-selective:

Abortion

Neglect

Abandonment

Infanticide

Critics argue that the drop in fertility rate was not only due to one-child policy

The fertility rate was 5.8 in 1970

The drop to 2.7 was due to China encouraging:

Later marriages

Longer interval between children

Fewer children

Impedes on the human right of freedom of choice

Population of about
972 million in 1978

Chairman Mao viewed a fast-growing population as a productive force necessary for China to become a great power

His successor, Deng Xiaoping, disagreed

China therefore was even pro-natalist in the past

It was not uncommon to see families with 4 or 5 children

By 2050, their population growth rate will be -0.5%

Males may have difficulties finding mates due to sex ratio

There is a very large ageing population

People will face the 4-2-1 phenomenon in the future

An only child must take care of 4 grandparents and two parents

The population is still growing at this point

Estimated peak population of 1.46 billion people by 2030

China now plans to change one-child policy to two-child policy

There may be a shortage of workers

Chinese government has stated the policy has prevented 400 million births

Experts argue that fertility rate is anywhere between 1.5-1.8 (below replacement level)

Was at 2.7 in 1978

The population growth has slowed from 2.61% to 0.65%

Created in 1978 by Chinese
leader Deng Xiaoping

Families are only permitted to have one child

Many exceptions to this:

Rural families

Ethnic minorities

Birth defects in child

Only-child parents

Families who follow it are rewarded

Higher wages

Better education

Preferential governmental treatment

Families who do not follow it are penalized

Fines

Loss of employment

Less governmental assistance