Case Study: China's 1 child policy

Case Study: China's 1 child policy

1. Key Facts

   • China has largest pop^n in the world
     • 1.3 Billion
       • 1/7 of all the world's pop^n
   • To reduce:
     • Socioeconomic and environmental problems
       • 1CP implemented
         • Couples strongly encouraged to have 1 child
   • Support pop^n with:
     • Facilities such as:
       • Healthcare
       • Education
       • Food
   • Couples who had 1 child
     • Given benefits such as:
       • Longer maternity Leave
       • Better housing
       • Free education
         • For the child
   • Couples who had more than 1 child
     • No benefits given
     • Fine on every child except first
       • Taken from parent's income
   • Started in 1979

2. About the Policy

   • Recent policy relaxed in rural areas
     • Rural areas not strictly monitored
       • Couples allowed a second child
         • If first 1 is female
           • Or has a physical disability
             • Unable to work the land
   • Ethnic Minorities allowed 2 children
     • Along with single sibling parents
   • Additional children cause
     • Large fines
   • 1CP helps towards sustainability
     • Pop^n not grown so fast
       • As it would have done without it
         • Fewer resources needed and used

3. Effectiveness

   • Fertility rate fallen
     • From 5.7 (1970) -> 1.8 (2008)
   • -400 million
     • In 2008, than there would have been if 1CP not introduced
   • Reduced epidemics
     • Slums
       • And overwhelming of social services
     • Forecast famine didn't happen

4. Problems

   • Ageing pop^n
     • Not enough people to sustain them
   • Gender imbalance
     • Hard for men to find a wife
       • Increase in sexual offences
   • Infanticide and Illegal abortions
     • Of unwanted female children
       • Female children abandoned
         • Taken into care
           • Poor standard of living
   • Males very spoiled
     • 'Little Emperor Syndrome'
   • Human rights issues over
     • Abortions
     • Rape
   • Children have no:
     • Aunts and Uncles
     • Cousins
     • Brothers and/or Sisters