1. What is the ‘One-Child Policy’?

China’s Demographic Transition Model
China’s Demographic Transition Model
The Chinese ‘One-Child Policy’ was introduced in 1978 by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. His aim was to limit communist China's population growth by limiting couples t6o only one child. Although designated a "temporary measure," it still continues to be in use a 25 years after it was established. In this time the rule has been estimated to have reduced population growth in the country of over 1.3 billion by as much as 300 million people in the first twenty years.

During Mao Zedong’s leadership of China infant mortality declined from 227 births in 1949 to 53 in 1981 per 1000 live births, and life expectancy dramatically increased from around 35 in 1949 to 66 years in 1976. The policy was introduced because up until the 1960s, the government encouraged families to have as many children as possible this is due to president Mao Zedong’s belief that population growth empowered the country. He prevented the rise of family planning programs thus increasing birth rates. The population grew from around 540 million in 1949 to 940 million in 1976.

Several years later Song Jian, one of china’s top officials read the books ‘The Limits of Growth’ and ‘A Blue Print For Survival’, he then went onto calculate the correct population for China to be 700 million, 240million less than the population at the time. The One-Child policy was introduced to reduce China’s population to this optimum level by 2080.

Each Chinese couple was restricted to only one Child. In order to enforce this incentives and disincentives were created. Families with only one child were provided with better housing, better healthcare, and priority over the best school enrolments and retirement funds and also received an extra months’ salary every year until their child was 14.

2. What are the negative aspects of this policy? (1/2-2/3 page)

Although the policy has been successful in reducing birth rates and the overall population there are many negative aspects to be seen as a result of it. A sever gender imbalance has occurred, many more male babies are being born than female. This is due to strong cultural preferences for boys as they carry on the family name and are viewed as an investment to families. In China today there are over 40 million too many men. 12-15% of young men have no hope of marrying.
Sex ratio at birth in mainland China, males per 100 females, 1980–2010.
Sex ratio at birth in mainland China, males per 100 females, 1980–2010.

This influx of baby girls has put an enormous strain on the resources of China's state-run orphanages. Girls make up over 90% of the populations of China’s orphanages. Shortages of staff or medical supplies might lead to moderately increased infant mortality, but it cannot account for annual death rates of 90 percent or more among new admissions. Babies are deliberately condemned to die by starvation and dehydration.
Overcrowded Chinese Orphanage
Overcrowded Chinese Orphanage

As ultra sound technology was introduced sex selective abortions and female infanticide became a widespread occurrence. This in turn resulted in many more boys than girls. As a result there is a severe lack of Chinese brides for the number of men. Human trafficking of brides from Vietnam and Cambodia has started as a result of this imbalance.

Couples with extra children are fined for these children. If they cannot afford to pay their homes are taken away. Fearing this many parents do not register these babies, so have no legal identities.

Forced abortions and sterilisations are common in China. The Chinese government has been accused of conducting forced abortions even on women who are past the legal abortion limit of 24 weeks.

The One Child Policy will also lead to a potential ageing population, as fewer young people are being born there will be far fewer people of working age to fill jobs. The economy will suffer greatly as a result.

3. Has the policy been successful?

China's family planning policy has prevented 400 million births. Since the regulations were introduced in 1979, China has kept its population in check using persuasion and encouragement. China's population growth rate has reduced to 0.6, second lowest in the world - this shows that so far the policy is working. The fall in fertility rates is also, at least partly, due to improving social and economic circumstances.

Since 2013 China has made gradual changes and relaxations to the One Child Policy, these changes make it possible for families to have two children if only one parent comes from a one child family. Originally both parents had to be only children for them to be permitted to have two children. There were also other exceptions to the rule including ethnic minorities and some rural families who were allowed to have a second child if their first was a girl. The aim of the changes to the One Child Policy is to rebalance China’s population; as the number of working-age people is quickly declining due to a low birth-rate and an increasing number of people reaching retirement age. People aged over 65 are likely to make up a quarter of the population by 2030. Meanwhile, the state predicts the working population will decrease by eight million people each year from 2023 onwards.

Although the One child Policy did what it set out to achieve, reduce population growth in what was the world’s most over populated nation, many factors were not taken into consideration when applying this policy. Huge age and gender imbalances have occurred as a consequence, potentially putting China’s economy at huge risk. These new problems which have arisen as a result may not be the same as those 40 years ago of a hugely overpopulated country, but I believe that in years to come the consequences of these will be just as apparent, if not more.