Population - One Child Policy

Population - One Child Policy

1. Effects

   • Sucesses
     • An estimated 400 million fewer people have been born, reducing concerns of over-population.
       • The forecast famine never happened.
         • Strain has been reduced on public services such as education and hospitals. For those living in a rural area, there is a better standard of education offered.
         • There worry of resource imbalance has now been reduced.
       • The rate of population growth has significantly slowed. It was 1.9% in 1979 and is 0.7% currently
   • Failures
     • There have been forced abortions and some have been forced as late as up to 7 months which would be illegal in the UK. This was enforced more strictly in large cities.
       • There are 116 men for every 100 women
         • The birth rate is well below replacement rate
     • There is a rapidly ageing population who need looking after, however the one child policy has created the 4-2-1 problem, where there is 1 child looking after 2 parents and 4 grandparents.
       • Chinese children - in particular favoured boys - have become spoiled. "Little Emperors"
       • There is a black market trade for children. Children are kidnapped and then sold, causing untold pain for the families involved.
       • Boys are favoured so girls are left to die sometimes. As boys are favoured there are now more men in China than women.
       • Economically, China will have to cope with a declining work force.

2. Example Answer: Stronger attempt to discuss with two sides clearly stated and some attempt to balance. Successes of the policy are that China was able to grow its economy at 10% each year as the rate of population growth slowed and there was a supply of workers without too much pressure on the government to provide for them. On the other hand, the policy was perhaps too successful causing a problem of a population ageing too fast which is hard to provide facilities for. The government had to relax the policy even more in 2013 because of this and now more people are allowed two children.

3. Couples must wait until they are 24 before getting married.

   • If families have 1 child and stick to the policy then they could get a 5-10% pay rise.
     • Government officials MUST stick to the policy or lose their job
       • If a second child is born it does not receive a free education or healthcare. It also will not get a passport.