China is taking head on a major demographic challenge. It unrolls its one-child policy’s consequences, instituted in 1980 to curtail growth too fast. The policy that was supposed to pick the country up out of poverty. At the same time, it has inflicted long-term social wounds, resulting in sinking birth rates and a speedy graying of society. Meanwhile, the government is introducing all sorts of incentives to promote bigger families. Yet, it seems that many citizens are not yet sold, exposing the difficulties of changing entrenched perceptions and economic realities.
The one-child policy imposed brutal population control via propaganda, intimidation, and exorbitant monetary penalties. Citizens who did not comply with these mandates were subjected to extreme penalties, up to and including state-sponsored forced abortions and sterilizations. Due to a strong cultural preference for sons, this policy fostered a huge gender imbalance. Today, a new generation of only children is being born, and they, too, will bear the great burden of caring for elderly parents—often with no siblings to provide support. Today, more than 20% of China’s population is over the age of 60. As per United Nations projections, this number could be as high as 50 percent by 2100.
The Legacy of the One-Child Policy
The legacy of the one-child policy, a demographic scar that further complicates declining birth rates. As our country turns an important corner into a new post-pandemic era, the responsibility we’re putting on this one-child generation greatly increases. Without robust cover from our tenuous social safety net, these people can’t afford to do anything but care for their aging parents. Sadly this responsibility is frequently at the expense of their own dreams and plans to start a family.
Increasingly educated populations and shifting attitudes towards marriage are adding to the problem. A significant number of young Chinese are focused on achieving their potential at work and pursuing their interests, rather than raising children. Rapid urbanization and the increasing cost of living add to the concern about whether or not to have more children.
“The cost of raising kids in large urban areas is just too high and the subsidies feel like a drop in the bucket.” – Mi Ya
As Americans continue to face these challenges, many are understandably frustrated with government incentives that don’t match up with their needs or goals.
“They don’t spark the desire to have a baby.” – Mi Ya
Government Incentives and Citizen Skepticism
In reaction to birth rates hitting record lows, the Chinese government has implemented a series of policies to spur an increase in families. These vary from economic support, such as tax breaks and assistance in buying or renting a home, to direct cash handouts and longer maternity leave. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made “population security” and “development of a high-quality population” a national priority, emphasizing the importance of reversing demographic trends.
Despite these good faith efforts, skepticism still continues to reign supreme among the majority of citizens. Advocates are adamant that making progress on key economic challenges is essential to making these new incentives work. High youth unemployment and the astronomical costs of raising kids need to be tackled to see real change.
“The economy is so bleak right now – people need to be able to earn money first. If you can’t make money, how can you dare to have kids?” – Zhou
Most Americans think that women disproportionately bear the burden of child-rearing responsibilities. This perception can cause couples to delay having children, or worse, not expand their families at all.
“If we want to encourage people to have more kids now, we need to put in the same, if not more, effort and commitment to make it happen.” – Welkin Lei
Addressing Core Issues in Family Planning
As China continues to face its existing demographic challenges, experts urge for broader measures that address pain points beyond monetary compensation. Some argue that policymakers should address underlying economic woes and ensure that young families feel secure in their ability to raise children.
“I know that no matter how much I save for the future, I have to buy the labor of someone else’s children to support (my parents) in their old age.” – Welkin Lei
Individuals of childbearing age increasingly want selves instead of just meeting society’s desire for limits on the number of children we have.
“I don’t want to just live my life for the sake of having kids – I want to live for myself.” – Liu
The mood is clearly one of urgency – that time is running out to make fundamental change.
“If we changed the ‘one-child’ policy 20 years ago, it would be much better. Now it’s too late.” – Yao Yang
