China Ends One-Child Policy After Many Decades For ‘Balanced Development Of Population’
The Communist Party of China has stated that couples are now allowed to raise two children signifying the end of the controversial one-child policy that was implemented in 1979, reported BBC News Oct. 29.
The one-child policy was introduced in China to slow the growth of the country's population, reportedly preventing the birth of 400 million infants. A couple found violating the policy then were given fines, removed from their jobs or even subjected to forced abortions.
The Community Party's Central Committee acknowledges the recent lifting of the policy as a means to address the growing concern of the country's ageing population, while the government aims "to improve the balanced development of population."
According to The Washington Post Oct. 29, expert on Chinese affairs from the University of California at Irvine, Wang Feng, considers the one-child policy abandonment a "great news" as he believes the country was at risk of a "demographic precipice" that could affect the legitimacy of Communist Party rule should the policy persist.
"This really marks a historic point to end one of the most controversial and costly policies in human history," Wang Feng said. "But China for decades to come will have to live with the aftermath of this costly policy."
The rapidly ageing society of China is resulting to increasing demands on social programs and health care plans for the elderly. A significant decline in the work force has also been observed, which may affect the world's No. 2 economy amid efforts of surpassing the U.S. economy.
"The reform will slightly slow down China's aging society, but it won't reverse it," said population professor at Fudan University, Peng Xizhe. "It will ease the labor shortage in the long term, but in the short term it may increase the shortage because more women might stop work to give birth."
Although the policy shift was announced in 2013, the country has yet to see a large increase in birthrates due to economic pressures and the fact that society has been used to the one-child policy norm.
"The change won't cause a baby wave, as the last policy change proved," noted Peng. "Couples chose not to have a second child because of economic pressure and insufficient social welfare."