CHINA Managing population change: enforcement or persuasion

What type of policies are used in China?

Enforcement policy.

What type of policies are used in Bangladesh?

Persuasion policies.

What has altered China’s population dynamics?

Social and economic factors, coupled with cultural influences and strict enforcement of family planning policies like the One-Child policy (OCP).

How has enforcement of control policies affected China’s population change?

• Decades of strict enforcement.

• Ineffective policy reversals.

• H

How have decades of strict enforcement affected China’s population?

OCP implemented in 1979 to control rapid population growth through fines, incentives, and in some cases, coercive methods like forced abortions and sterilizations.

While decreasing births, it also created vast social and ethical problems.

How have ineffective policy reversals affected China’s population change?

Later policies to boost the birth rate have largely failed due to lasting socio-economic and cultural changes.

For example, two-child policy saw only a short-term increase in births before rates continued to decline.

What socioeconomic developments have affected China’s population change?

• Demographic dividend.

• Shift in priotities.

How has the demographic dividend affected China’s population?

In short-term, the OCP contributed to economic growth by creating a large, working-age population relative to the number of dependent children.

However, this dividend has now ended.

How has the shift in priorities affected China’s population?

Increased access to higher education and greater career opportunities for women led many to prioritize professional development and delay or forgo starting a family.

What are the cultural influences affecting China’s population?

• Traditional son preference.

• Erosion of filial piety.

How has the traditional son preference affected China’s population?

Deeply rooted cultural traditions that favour male children exacerbated the demographic impact of the OCP.

Led to sex-selective abortions and neglect of female infants, especially in rural areas.

How has erosion of filial piety affected China’s population?

Breakdown of traditional family structures and the 4-2-1 family model (4 grandparents, 2 parents, 1 child) has increased the burden on the younger generations to care for ageing relatives.

What demographic imbalances are the consequences of these factors for Chinese people?

• Rapid population ageing.

• Imbalanced sex ratio.

How is rapid population aging a consequence for Chinese people?

With fewer children and increased longevity, China’s population is aging faster than almost any other country.

Percentage of people over 65 is projected to grow significantly, putting immense pressure on pensions, healthcare and social welfare.

How is an imbalanced sex ratio affecting Chinese people?

Strong preference for sons led to a skewed gender balance.

Today, there are millions more men than women, leading to a ‘marriage squeeze’ for many men, especially those with fewer socioeconomic resources.

What social ramifications are consequences for Chinese people?

• The ‘little emperor’ generation.

• Heightened societal pressures.

How is the ‘little emperor’ generation a consequence for Chinese people?

OCP created a generation of only-children, some of whom are characterised as being spoiled or selfish due to a lack of siblings.

What are the heightened societal pressures for Chinese people?

The 4-2-1 family structure places significant financial and emotional pressure on only-children, who are responsible for supporting both their parents and their grandparents.

What economic challenges are China now facing?

• Labour force shrinkage.

• Increased fiscal burden.

What is the labur force shrinkage?

Working-age population is contracting, threatening the labour supply and China’s future economic growth trajectory.

What is the increased fiscal burden?

The ballooning retiree population and shrinking workforce place enormous strain on the national pension system and require a massive increase in healthcare and social security spending.