4.4 The Management of Natural Increase

• Why was it introduced?

  Famine from 1959 to 1961: 35 million deaths

  Less farming and baby boom looked likely that another Famine would occur in 1970s

  Government introduced One Child Policy

  
• When was it introduced?

  1979

  
• What were some of the terms stated in the initial One-Child policy?

  Must not marry until late 20s

  Must only have 1 successful pregnancy

  Must be sterilised or abort future pregnancies

  Would receive a 5-10% salary rise for limiting family to 1 child

  Would receive priority housing, pension and family benefits: free education
• What is the minimum age a couple can marry under the One Child Policy?

  Late 20s
• How much of a salary rise would a couple receive as an incentive for having 1 child?

  5-10% rise

  
• What are some incentives/benefits to a family if they follow the policy?

  5-10% salary rise

  Priority housing and pension

  Free education

  Longer maternity leave
• What are some of the penalties if families have more than 1 child?

  10% salary cut

  Family must pay for education and health care for all of the family

  Second children born abroad are not allowed to become Chinese citizens
• What is the salary (percentage) cut for having more than 1 child?

  10% cut
• What is the ethnic group that is exempt from the One Child policy?

  Han race
• In rural areas, how does the policy differ?

  A second pregnancy is allowed if the first child is a girl because a son is more essential to farm the land

  
• Granny Police


  Older women of the community who enforced the One Child Policy by keeping a close eye on couples of a childbearing age
• What are the positive effects of the One Child Policy

  Has prevented up to 400 million births

  Fertility rate has decreased from 5.7 to 1.8

  Prevented famine: There is enough food and jobs

  Increased standard of living

  Families are richer due to Government incentives

  
• Number of births prevented

  400 million
• Average Number of births has decreased from ___ to ___

  2.9 to 1.7
• What are the negative effects of the One Child Policy

  Women forced to have late abortions

  Pressure from 'Granny Police'

  Gender imbalance: Boys preferred (135:100)

  Female infanticide

  Children over-indulged: Little Emperors
• What is the ratio of boys to girls as a result of the One Child Policy?

  135:100
• What were some of the changes made to the One child Policy in the 1990s


  Only child couples can have to have 2 children

  People living in the countryside can have more than one child

  Ethnic minorities can have more than one child
• Why is there less gender imbalance more recently?

  The status of women in society is higher, so people are not so desperate for a male child
• Why are only-child couples allowed to have more than one child?

  The family unit may die out.

  To balance the population and reduce ageing population.

  The dependency ratio may become too high
• Why are people living in the countryside allowed to have more than one child?

  Demand for agricultural products:

  Children are required to work on the land.
• Why can ethnic minorities can have more than one child?

  Ethnic minorities make up a very small proportion, so would not make a big difference.

  These ethnic minorities do not contribute much to the

  economic growth of the country.